Originally Posted by
Dan Druff
I am tired of the 16-team NBA playoffs, where it's almost assured that at least one team with a losing record will make the playoffs, which is an embarrassment.
At the moment, both leagues would have teams substantially under .500 in the playoffs. This will probably correct itself somewhat by the end, as some teams tank at the end, but the system is still awful. It also renders the regular season as mostly a joke.
They probably won't do this, but I'd love to see the following change:'
1) Playoff teams consist of the 3 division leaders and 3 wildcards (the next 3 best records) in each conference
2) First round is worst division winner versus wildcard #3, and the other two wildcards play each other. Top 2 division winners get a bye. Series is 3 games long (so the other teams don't get rusty from waiting around.) Homecourt goes to the team with the better record, but the division winner always gets homecourt in the first round against the wildcard.
3) Second round is already down to 4 teams, just as before, and is 5 games. #1 seed plays the winner of the two wildcard games, #2 seed plays the winner of the other series.
4) Third round, the conference finals, is 7 games.
5) NBA Finals is 7 games, of course.
So basically you're getting a bye for the top 2 division winners (good for load management, too), and avoiding shitty #7/#8 seeds with losing records from making the playoffs.
What you gain from this:
1) More incentive to win division
2) Top 2 division winners get rewarded with a bye for their excellent regular season record
3) Teams with losing records unlikely to make playoffs
4) Mostly boring first round reduced to 3 games
5) While 4 fewer teams will make the postseason, it will bring some excitement back to the regular season, as you'll have more good teams jockeying for a playoff spot, whereas now almost all teams over .500 make it.
Comments?