What if? NHL-formatted NBA Playoffs

[Big Z 1990]

What if the NBA divisions and playoffs were formatted similarly to the NHL? This is what would happen:

Atlantic
Toronto Raptors (59-23)
Boston Celtics (55-27)
Philadelphia 76ers (52-30)
Cleveland Cavaliers (50-32)
Washington Wizards (43-39)
New York Knicks (29-53)
Brooklyn Nets (28-54)

Central
Indiana Pacers (48-34)
Miami Heat (44-38)
Milwaukee Bucks (44-38)
Detroit Pistons (39-43)
Charlotte Hornets (36-46)
Chicago Bulls (27-55)
Orlando Magic (25-57)
Atlanta Hawks (24-58)

Midwest
Houston Rockets (65-17)
Oklahoma City Thunder (48-34)
New Orleans Pelicans (48-34)
San Antonio Spurs (47-35)
Minnesota Timberwolves (47-35)
Dallas Mavericks (24-58)
Memphis Grizzlies (22-60)

Pacific
Golden State Warriors (58-24)
Portland Trail Blazers (49-33)
Utah Jazz (48-34)
Denver Nuggets (46-36)
Los Angeles Clippers (42-40)
Los Angeles Lakers (35-47)
Sacramento Kings (27-55)
Phoenix Suns (21-61)

And here are the playoff seeds:

Atlantic
1. Toronto Raptors (59-23)
2. Boston Celtics (55-27)
3. Philadelphia 76ers (52-30)

Central
1. Indiana Pacers (48-34)
2. Miami Heat (44-38)
3. Milwaukee Bucks (44-38)

Eastern Wild Card
1. Cleveland Cavaliers (50-32)
2. Washington Wizards (43-39)

Midwest
1. Houston Rockets (65-17)
2. Oklahoma City Thunder (48-34)
3. New Orleans Pelicans (48-34)

Pacific
1. Golden State Warriors (58-24)
2. Portland Trail Blazers (49-33)
3. Utah Jazz (48-34)

Western Wild Card
1. San Antonio Spurs (47-35)
2. Minnesota Timberwolves (47-35)

And the playoff match-ups:

Toronto VS. Washington
Boston VS. Philadelphia
Indiana VS. Cleveland
Miami VS. Milwaukee

Houston VS. Minnesota
Oklahoma City VS. New Orleans
Golden State VS. San Antonio
Portland VS. Utah

2 playoff match-ups would remain the same in each conference. Only we have a divisional-based format. Of course it would never happen but it's an interesting scenario.

 

[bksballer89]

I would hate it

 

[OregonDucks]

What if you were a hotdog, would you eat yourself?

 

[Mecca]

The Clippers would still be out.

So, pass...lol

But, nice thought on how to shake things up a bit.

I always like forward thinking, even if I disagree.

 

[tducey]

It's not popular among the NHL fanbase so I doubt the NBA would go for it, still something fun to look at.

 

[tlance]

I think it would suck.

I am against any format that makes it less likely for the best two teams to meet in the end.