NBA Postseason Change Ideas

[LoPo]

There has been a ton of speculation about the NBA changing the playoff format. There are even proposals for a play in tournament before the playoffs begin. They want to curb tanking as much as possible, make everything more relevant and of course make tons of money.

Here is my idea, take your shots.

#1 - keep 2 conferences. Scrap divisions.

#2 - cut preseason from 8 games to 2 games like they did the lockout year.

#3 - every team plays 2 home and 2 away games against the 14 teams in their conference (56 games). Every team also plays 1 home and 1 away game with the 14 teams from the other conference. So season actually goes to 84 games (not that big a deal since they cut 6 preseason games).

#4 - every team makes the playoffs. The first round of the playoffs is best of 3 and the second round is best of 5 (like it used to be). The last rounds are best of 7. #1 seed in each conference gets a bye for the first round.

The schedule makes more sense, every game matters towards seeding, and every team actually has a shot.

Thoughts?

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[Gameface]

I don't hate it but I really doubt they go to a every team makes the playoffs format.

 

[Ellipse]

Before we go mucking with the format, we first need to state the problem we are trying to fix.

 

[Thee Jazz Fan]

Before we go mucking with the format, we first need to state the problem we are trying to fix.

Wasn't that made clear, tanking?

 

[colton]

If they could combine the teams from east and west in a play-in tournament instead of having two separate play-in tournaments, then it could perhaps also address the east-west disparity.

Don't know if that's on the table though.

 

[elan_prodigy]

The issue is the number of 1 sided contests in the playoffs and the matchups being a little played out leading to less revenue for the league and owners.

Schedule stays the same, take 8 from West and 8 from East, Reseed 1-16.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

The playoff format is fine. I really dont understand the push to change it.

If anything, there should be a reshaping of divisions/conferences. I really like Locke's idea on this.

 

[Gameface]

The issue is the number of 1 sided contests in the playoffs and the matchups being a little played out leading to less revenue for the league and owners.

Schedule stays the same, take 8 from West and 8 from East, Reseed 1-16.

I say take the top 16 teams, period.

 

[Gameface]

The playoff format is fine. I really dont understand the push to change it.

If anything, there should be a reshaping of divisions/conferences. I really like Locke's idea on this.

What's Locke's idea?

 

[Et tu Brute]

The way to fix tanking is to fiddle with the draft.
Question is how. The draft is designed to provide a level of equalisation overtime (right?)...
Maybe you should have no lottery - and just have a system where all teams have an equal chance at picking #1 (and so on).
To provide bottom feeding teams some extra help, maybe increase their cap capacity a few % points to attract FA/RFA.

Surely the only real way to stop tanking is to make it pointless to do it?

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

What's Locke's idea?

I can't recite it from memory, but basically he calls for the NBA to get rid of conferences and stick to divisions (which he restructures). Teams play more divisional games, so it creates more of a rivalry aspect to the regular season like the NFL. It also cuts down significantly on travel.

 

[Rubashov]

Leave it as is, this is cyclical imbalance that will correct itself naturally in time. A wise man once said pulling out the rafters to find out which ones are important is an expensive way to fix your roof.