Baller#3
Years ago
With San Antonio and golden state the two best teams in the league, is it not a pity we will not see them play in the finals?
I would love to see the NBA continue conference play, but change the play off structure to top 16. Meaning The Spurs and the Warriors could potentially play in the finals.
Nope I'm a traditionalist keep it as it is, and if the NBA title has to run through the West so be it. What makes it potentially so interesting is that IF the Spurs and Warriors go at it for the Conference finals, chances are it goes close to the distance and they beat the shit out of eachother, opens things up for the East team to capitalize if they have a easier run from the East side.
Baller#3
Years ago
This years not so bad, but some years, 9th in the west had as good a record as the 5th seed in the east. Not fair on teams missing out, to teams that are way less talented.
Spurs are undefeated at home, most experienced and have playoff pedigree and one of the great coaches in Popovich that plays great defence and have a great inside game.
Even money chance with the warriors, smoking crack if you're sure of a sweep!
As for changing structure, keep as is. West is deeper and has been in years, but changing rules every time one conference is stronger than another brings about can of worms every time there's a change of power. End of the day the top team wins it, regardless of what conference, if not have a playoff for 3rd and 4th, 5th and 6th etc like Olympics.
koberulz
Years ago
As for changing structure, keep as is. West is deeper and has been in years, but changing rules every time one conference is stronger than another brings about can of worms every time there's a change of power.Not if you change the rules so conference power is irrelevant.
Bear
Years ago
I like conferences and in the NBA they work, however I also like innovation and common sense.
No reason at all the NBA couldn't look at changing from conferences after the regular season is done to then holding finals according to win/loss records or some fair point system to determine best records and allocate seeds perhaps (like in a tournament concept).
It will allow two West teams the chance to play n the final series and if they are the best two teams, so be it.
They changed the college football finals a few years ago and it seems to have worked well, it just takes someone with enough weight and presenting it at the right time IMHO...
Aussiebballer
Years ago
If they change to top 16 they will need to change the schedule.
Reduce the pre-season so they can start 2 weeks earlier and make every team play each other 3 times.
So 87 games instead of 82, this is the only way to make every teams schedule even.
At the moment teams in some Divisions have a much harder schedule then others as they play the teams in their division 4 times, the teams in their Conference 3 times and the teams in the other conference twice.
Teams in the South West division have it much harder then teams in the Pacific or Atlantic and have for many years.
The NBA won't do it as the excuse they make for not having the top 16 is travel times in the first 3 rounds of the Playoffs. Considering the teams have private jets I don't think it is a big issue.
spot up
Years ago
Leave it as it is. You play teams in your own conference more, so it makes sense that the two finals participants come from each conference.
Baller#3
Years ago
Some teams still have to travel ridiculously far anyway. For example a series between Portland and New Orleans wouldn't be much closer then Portland and Chicago or Milwaukee. Not really any travel excuses in this day.
For an example this years play offs would likely look like:
1. Warriors vs 16. Utah
2. Spurs vs 15. Dallas
3. Cavs vs 14. Memphis
4. Raptors vs 13. Portland
5. Thunder vs 12. Indiana
6. Clippers vs 11. Detroit
7. Hawks vs 10. Hornets
8. Boston vs 9. Miami
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