Playoff Format

[Arizona_Sting]

I know I've said this before... but I'll go ahead and say it again. The current NBA playoff format is really dumb. It needs to be changed and here's how I'd do it:

Top 16 teams make it. 1vs16, 2vs15, 3vs14, 4vs13, etc. Here's what the current bracket would look like.

This would be MUCH more competitive and INTERESTING than how it's set up now.
---------------------------------
1) San Antonio Spurs
16) Minnesota Timberwolves

8) Golden State Warriors
9) Dallas Mavericks

5) Los Angeles Clippers
12) Toronto Raptors

4) Miami Heat
13) Chicago Bulls
---------------------------------
6) Houston Rockets
11) Phoenix Suns

3) Oklahoma City Thunder
14) Brooklyn Nets

7) Portland Trailblazers
10) Memphis Grizzlies

2) Indiana Pacers
15) Washington Wizards
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10 West teams, 6 East teams. Lots of good 1st round matchups. I would love it.

 

[Lone Granger]

Remember that thread about Miami being a first round exit?

 

[Prince™]

This would be more fair for the teams in the West that miss out since there are a lot of teams below .500 in the east that do make it.

 

[Shaqdaddy11]

Dude just wants the Suns in the playoffs as they'll probably fail to make it again this year!

 

[trojanfan12]

Great format. Would love to see it, but it won't happen because it makes too much sense.

 

[BOTSLAYER]

Remember that thread about Miami being a first round exit?

You mean your dream scenario that would allow IND into the finals? Or you really believe that shit because feel free to pick your length of ban you are willing to wager and every one on this forum will be racing to take that bet.

Great format. Would love to see it, but it won't happen because it makes too much sense.

We have hope with the new commish.

 

[Lone Granger]

You mean your dream scenario that would allow IND into the finals? Or you really believe that shit because feel free to pick your length of ban you are willing to wager and every one on this forum will be racing to take that bet.



We have hope with the new commish.

It had Miami up against Chitown, you filthy bandwagoner lol.

 

[BOTSLAYER]

It had Miami up against Chitown, you filthy bandwagoner lol.

So you think MIA would lose a 7 game series to CHI?

I am sure posters would line up to take that action too...just saying

 

[Arizona_Sting]

Dude just wants the Suns in the playoffs as they'll probably fail to make it again this year!

OR maybe I just don't want to see the Bobcats and Hawks in a playoff series. If you're a fan of shitty playoff basketball then be my guest!

 

[gordontrue]

Only if the schedule format changes.

You play a lot more games against your conference than you do against the other. Its not fair to get beat to a playoff spot by someone you rarely play against. Its not fair to have a team in an easier conference beat you to a higher seed. Its not fair to have your playoff position determined by your play against a certain group of teams, and then see another team have their playoff position determined by their play against a completely different set of teams.

A more balanced schedule would make it work, but would also cause more difficult travel logistics.

It would also be a huge turning point in NBA history, causing comparison of playoff success between eras difficult or impossible (similar to what the shot clock did to comparing stats).

 

[Arizona_Sting]

Only if the schedule format changes.

You play a lot more games against your conference than you do against the other. Its not fair to get beat to a playoff spot by someone you rarely play against. Its not fair to have a team in an easier conference beat you to a higher seed. Its not fair to have your playoff position determined by your play against a certain group of teams, and then see another team have their playoff position determined by their play against a completely different set of teams.

A more balanced schedule would make it work, but would also cause more difficult travel logistics.

It would also be a huge turning point in NBA history, causing comparison of playoff success between eras difficult or impossible (similar to what the shot clock did to comparing stats).

Isn't that already taking place now though?

I completely agree that the schedule would need to change and balance out both conferences evenly, but it's already pretty unbalanced and unfair as it is. This would at least allow the top 16 teams in... and in the hypothetical bracket I posted I believe those are definitely the best 16 teams in the NBA.

 

[gordontrue]

Isn't that already taking place now though?

I completely agree that the schedule would need to change and balance out both conferences evenly, but it's already pretty unbalanced and unfair as it is. This would at least allow the top 16 teams in... and in the hypothetical bracket I posted I believe those are definitely the best 16 teams in the NBA.

Fair point.

I definitely agree that the scenario fits well this year (certainly in terms of who gets in and who doesn't)... but I can imagine future scenarios where it wouldn't, though admittedly, many are improbable.

If the schedule was balanced out that would go away though. It is intriguing.

 

[Hornsstampede2.0]

It would only work if you played everyone an equal amount of times.


Otherwise, it makes the most sense to stick with conference


It balances out over the years.


The EAST dominated forever with more good team...now the west has more good teams...


It will go back and forth year after year.

 

[PhilSimms11]

I say cut the playoff teams from 16 to 14 and eliminate conference affiliation. I like the divisions. Seed the teams 1-14 in descending order of W-L record. The top-2 teams have a 1st round bye. The 2015 season would be...

(1)GS (67-15)
(2)ATL (60-22)

(3)HOU (56-26) vs (14)OKC (45-37)
(6)SA (55-27) vs (11)TOR (49-33)

(4)LAC (56-26) vs (13)NO (45-37)
(5)MEM (55-27) vs (12)WAS (46-36)

(7)CLE (53-29) vs (10)DAL (50-32)--winner plays (2)ATL
(8)POR (51-31) vs (9)CHI (50-32)--winner plays (1)GS
-----------------
2014 would have been...
(1)SA (62-20)
(2)OKC (59-23)

(3)LAC (57-25) vs (14)WSH (44-38)
(6)HOU (54-28) vs (11)TOR (48-34)

(4)IND (56-26) vs (13)PHX (48-34)
(5)MIA (54-28) vs (12)CHI (48-34)

(7)POR (54-28) vs (10)DAL (49-33)--winner plays (2)OKC
(8)GS (51-31) vs (9)MEM (50-32)--winner plays (1)SA
-----------------
2013 would have been...
(1)MIA (66-16)
(2)OKC (60-22)

(3)SA (58-24) vs (14)ATL (44-38)
(6)MEM (56-26) vs (11)CHI (45-37)

(4)DEN (57-25) vs (13)HOU (45-37)
(5)LAC (56-26) vs (12)LAL (45-37)

(7)NY (54-28) vs (10)GS (47-35)--winner plays (2)OKC
(8)IND (49-32) vs (9)BKN (49-33)--winner plays (1)MIA

 

[logic]

I say cut the playoff teams from 16 to 14 and eliminate conference affiliation. I like the divisions. Seed the teams 1-14 in descending order of W-L record. The top-2 teams have a 1st round bye. The 2015 season would be...

How can you like divisions, but not conferences? The divisions serve no purpose in your model, so why would they continue to exist?
This won't happen; to the NBA having byes = leaving money on the table.
Also increases playoff costs with a lot longer east-west travel.

 

[tducey]

Yes but not in that way, if you ask me the NBA should do a cross over where if the 10th and 9th seeds in 1 conference have a better record than than the 7 and 8 in the other conference those 2 teams should qualify for the playoffs.

 

[gordontrue]

You can't both
1) Keep divisions (and the unbalanced schedule)
2) Award playoff position without any regard for division winners

 

[hockey878]

Having a two week bye would just be bizarre

 

[gordontrue]

Having a two week bye would just be bizarre

Good point. In basketball, I don't think that long of a bye is a good thing. Unless a team's best player is a couple weeks from being healthy... no one would want that.

 

[FantasyBelowZero]

The playoff format should be changed, but first, the first round should be reduced to a best of 5 series. I mean, the NBA season stretches all the way until June(which is too darn long).