I don't think single eliminaton games will work for a professional league. It work's for the NCAA cause there are so many teams - 65 in the tournament.

what would the point of the season be?

maybe stick to croquet.....and get an idea. ridiculous suggestion...by the way in case you had not realised how little idea you have....as long as hunter are still in the league..there are actually 11 teams.

Good to see you have the ability to think laterally Cameron

The NBL needs something to help lift it's image and to grab the consumers imagination and if something as simple as a different playoff format could increase exposure to the league, then that would be good thing for clubs.

Instead of telling people "to get an idea" why don't you try and think of a better alternative after all this is a basketball forum and it doesn't imply anywhere that people are not allowed to think creatively for the betterment of the game.

I only ever said it was an idea not the perfect plan that will take the NBL to the promise land

its a really bad idea that makes no sense.

why have a season at all, when everyone is in a knockout tournament at the end anyway?

this year's format was OK, just get rid of the 3 and 4 teams playing in a knockout QF. Make it a 3 game series.

worst idea i have ever heard

Its not a bad idea with the lower teams but the point of finals is to see the best team not whos best on the day. If a grandfinal was between 7th and 8th because they had the luck thatd be a pretty bad grand final

Croquet anyone, that's the same as suggesting that everyone should rely on winning the lottery for their livelihood as luck alone is going to help you instead of working hard to earn it. If teams have worked hard all season, they don't want to throw it all away on a single elimination game. Winning the grand final should be a privilege for a team who has worked hard and made good progress throughout the season.

And anyway, why have a top 8 when there are only 11 teams in the league

Croquet, I have seen some ridiculous things posted on here (god knows Ive posted more than my fair share)..but that takes the cake.

Let's paint a picture......

Hunter beats Brisbane
Hunter then beats Townsville
Hunter then beats Wollongong
Hunter beats Sydney in the 1 game elimination Grand Final, so the team who only just managed to scrape into the finals needs just 4 games to take the championship??

If you play, or have ever played, how would you, as a player, fell if you have slogged all season, watched your team be successful and stay towards the top of the ladder all season, to get knocked out in a 1 game grand final?

Smacks of a social league rather than a professional league.

I still go with my previous suggestion that with a current 11 team situation, it should be top 6, with elimination finals being 3 vs 6 and 4 vs 5
1 and 2 still get automatic entry to semis.

Might be crowd preference? I prefer a three-game series for anything but a low-placed elimination final.

Well thank you for allowing me fifteen minuets of your time. I will leave now.


BTW, a good team will always beat a crap team no matter what the system and upset will always happen as well. Finals upsets is such a cliché because they happen

Gee, "Croquet anyone" got battered from pillar to post on this one. I will put my suggestion up so you can do the same to me :-)

I like the eight team finals, but would prefer to have all three game finals with 1v8, 2v7, 3v6 and 4v5. ie same as NBA conference from last year (this year is a bit different I believe). Winner of 1v8 plays winner of 4v5 etc.

I can't see it happening, but I still like the idea.

I like that idea too, but it still has to be played in a series format. 3 games for quarters and semis, and 5 for GF.

The season determines who has home court advantage throughout. Simple, but it makes sense. Also, every team then gets a home final giving ALL fans exposure to finals ball and clubs the extra money the ALL need.

Just got here to read this... HA!..I think "croquet" should change his/her name ... start again. Think before you post.

Why would you bother fielding a good side all year round for nothing if you could just turn up in finals ?

For anonymous: a cinderella team is a 'lucky' one, to my understanding .

A cindarella team is what the guys from Queer Eye called their social league team.

Apparently they get called for lots of hair-pulling and slapping fouls

and they like to go back door!

... and take it hard to the hole

and how about their defence:
- good on the split line
- nobody ever flops

...lots of shooting ?? hanging on the rim ?