How the 2020 playoffs should be played

[dtgold88]

Yep, for most people, other than planning a vacation (which is what? a week or 2?) their schedule doesn't change significantly just because it's summer.

Even the weekends may not be too bad. A lot of folks get together for barbecues, etc. on the weekends and often times there's a baseball game on in the house and people going in and out.

Could do the same with basketball and since it would be the playoffs, folks might be more likely to have the basketball game on.

will say while easy decision for me to leave it alone....I would still watch bball in the summer months if they made the switch. My issue is when it comes to sports the weekdays would be kind of boring Oct-late Dec. Especially, once MLB ended....and my guess is most baseball fans are not glued into playoffs when not their team.

 

[trojanfan12]

will say while easy decision for me to leave it alone....I would still watch bball in the summer months if they made the switch. My issue is when it comes to sports the weekdays would be kind of boring Oct-late Dec. Especially, once MLB ended....and my guess is most baseball fans are not glued into playoffs when not their team.

Agree. I think a lot of folks would watch the basketball playoffs.

I watch the MLB playoffs more closely if the Dodgers are in it, just casually if they're not or get eliminated.

Yeah, I get your point about weekdays during that time though. But we'd still have football Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays. So, it wouldn't be terrible.

 

[Edonidd]

I'm dying for sports right now. I watched 2 guys playing tetris tournament on ESPN the other day. Last night I watched 2 NBA players play basketball on the playstation against each other. Televised with commentary. Gimme some real sports please!

That said there's no way this happens. They would need minimum several thousand people who agreed to completely quarantine, but away from their nice comfy millionaire homes and in hotel rooms. It would mean the older family centric people being away from their families. It would mean the young guys not going out. It would mean no booty calls, no weed man, nothing. Plus the same from cleaning crews, and camera men, everybody.

And then if one person gets sick... do they cancel the whole thing because one camera man got sick? Do they let it keep going until the people who cleaned the camera mans room also cleaned Lebrons room and he gets sick? What if it's not lebron, what if it's the 8th guy off the bench?

I just dont see it happening.

 

[msgkings322]

I guess, but what about M-F from Oct-late Dec?

NHL baby!

 

[tlance]

Only thing I disagree with is ruling it out completely.

yeah, that is kind of your thing though.

You never rule anything out completely. No matter how ridiculous or improbable.

 

[dtgold88]

Agree. I think a lot of folks would watch the basketball playoffs.

I watch the MLB playoffs more closely if the Dodgers are in it, just casually if they're not or get eliminated.

Yeah, I get your point about weekdays during that time though. But we'd still have football Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays. So, it wouldn't be terrible.

Guess seeing what's going on now not sure if back to normal any plan would be terrible.

 

[dtgold88]

yeah, that is kind of your thing though.

You never rule anything out completely. No matter how ridiculous or improbable.

If you say so....Like your thing is pretend to be smarter than anyone and make extreme comments. Your way or the highway.

but it's pure comedy what you see happening but just couldn't wrap your head around even the remotest chance they play single elimination.

Suppose the players didn't want to go away from their families for weeks or months? Just not possible this could be a compromise, sport?

 

[Robotech]

I really think they can get this done. It is going to take a lot of sacrifice from a lot of people, and a lot of $ from the NBA, but the NBA can make this happen. And as you know, I have not been the most optimistic about Coronavirus impact.

Here is what should happen, IMO:

1) NBA cancels rest of regular season.
2) NBA tests and quarantines all remaining playoff team players + essential personnel. Once cleared, they move to a central locale. This location could be anywhere from a large college campus to a large Caribbean resort. All personnel will reside in the same city to eliminate travel.
3) NBA hires, tests and quarantines all necessary support staff. This would include officials, food prep, and anyone else who would come in contact with players and coaches (yes I know this is a lot of people)
4) Once everyone has been safely cleared, they could begin a 2 week training camp that would help players get back in game shape. This camp would include a few exhibition games against teams from the opposite conference.
5) Playoffs start!

Obviously, no NBA personnel would be allowed to leave the chose event site for any reason to keep everybody safe. Once a team is eliminated, they can leave.

This would take a lot, but there is enough $ on the line that I think something like this could be made possible even before the virus is completely contained. Maybe by summer things are contained enough that they won’t have to take these drastic steps, but I am not sure how likely that is.

I like the idea. The main problem is it could be bad PR. While the vast majority of Americans can't get a test, it might look bad to pour all these resources into the NBA.

 

[trojanfan12]

I like the idea. The main problem is it could be bad PR. While the vast majority of Americans can't get a test, it might look bad to pour all these resources into the NBA.

There would be some initial criticism and of course some people who would complain just to have something to bitch about.

But once they started playing, I think much of it would go away and most would appreciate having the games.

 

[tlance]

If you say so....Like your thing is pretend to be smarter than anyone and make extreme comments. Your way or the highway.

but it's pure comedy what you see happening but just couldn't wrap your head around even the remotest chance they play single elimination.

Suppose the players didn't want to go away from their families for weeks or months? Just not possible this could be a compromise, sport?

No sport.

And LOL at you calling my position “extreme”

Mr “anything can happen”.

Single elimination playoffs would be a joke.

 

[bksballer89]

If you say so....Like your thing is pretend to be smarter than anyone and make extreme comments. Your way or the highway.

but it's pure comedy what you see happening but just couldn't wrap your head around even the remotest chance they play single elimination.

Suppose the players didn't want to go away from their families for weeks or months? Just not possible this could be a compromise, sport?

Why would anyone in the players association be ok with single elimination?

This isn't college basketball. You think Lebron or most of the players on playoffs teams would sign off on a single elimination tournament?

The season will be canceled before they do something that stupid.

 

[bksballer89]

there's at least 7 other options they have.....probably more.

There's literally nothing positive about a march madness style of tournament.

 

[dtgold88]

Why would anyone in the players association be ok with single elimination?

This isn't college basketball. You think Lebron or most of the players on playoffs teams would sign off on a single elimination tournament?

The season will be canceled before they do something that stupid.

They might think, "better than nothing" and maybe don't want to take a chance of going to some remote area for a month or 2 away from family.

Hell, at one time Lebron said "no way I'll play without fans in stands" and he seems to have changed his tune.

 

[dtgold88]

No sport.

And LOL at you calling my position “extreme”

Mr “anything can happen”.

Single elimination playoffs would be a joke.

compared to what we are used to? Yep....then again at one time Lebron thought playing without a crowd was a joke and said he wouldn't do it.

Guess he wont be taking part in this plan.

 

[dtgold88]

there's at least 7 other options they have.....probably more.

There's literally nothing positive about a march madness style of tournament.

"literally nothing"

March Madness style not better than "literally nothing"? I disagree.

what I think would happen is 3 game series. Maybe 5 for Finals.

 

[tlance]

"literally nothing"

March Madness style not better than "literally nothing"? I disagree.

what I think would happen is 3 game series. Maybe 5 for Finals.

I do honestly think single elimination is worse than nothing.

Banners fly forever. And the NBA has a process that ensures championships are well earned.

Implementing a system that would require a total of 4 victories and minimal opportunity for the coaching adjustments that make playoff basketball so intriguing flies in the face of everything the NBA is about.

And if somebody like the Rockets or the Sixers or the Jazz were to somehow get hot and win it, it would feel like stealing. And I am sure that most hardcore fans would absolutely hate that.

Hell, even if a front runner like the Lakers, Bucks or Clippers won, would that help anybody’s legacy? I don’t see how it logically could.

Either give us some type of series (ideally at least 5 games), or cancel.

 

[bksballer89]

Either give us some type of series (ideally at least 5 games), or cancel.

Yep. I'm ok with all best of 5 series but yeah I would prefer the season get canceled before we go to a week and half of a 16 team march madness type style tournament.

I would even be willing to accept the first round being best of 3 and the rest being best of 5.

 

[trojanfan12]

Hell, even if a front runner like the Lakers, Bucks or Clippers won, would that help anybody’s legacy? I don’t see how it logically could.

As a Lakers fan, I'd add that if the Lakers won a playoff like that, while I would obviously be happy...I think it would feel kind of empty (for lack of a better word).

In some ways, the NBA playoffs are a "war of attrition". It's about making it through an 82 game regular season, potentially 28 playoff games (if every series went 7 games) and managing to be the last team standing.

A single elimination tournament would take all of that away. Especially when you factor in a shortened (games wise) regular season.

 

[trojanfan12]

Yep. I'm ok with all best of 5 series but yeah I would prefer the season get canceled before we go to a week and half of a 16 team march madness type style tournament.

I would even be willing to accept the first round being best of 3 and the rest being best of 5.

I'd still want the finals to be 7 games. But if the only way to do it was to have a 5 game finals, I'm pretty sure I'd get over it.

 

[Robotech]

I'd still want the finals to be 7 games. But if the only way to do it was to have a 5 game finals, I'm pretty sure I'd get over it.

I want to see the NBA give us an ending. I think they should only have 8 teams in the playoffs. Best of 7 series throughout. It's wrong anyway that American pro sports leagues allow so many teams into the playoffs.