OT - NBA Playoffs - How do you change it?

[sina2002]

At this moment we have 10 teams in the west above 0.500 and 5 in the east...
Do you guys think that NBA should just let go of the east/west type of playoffs?
its just doesn't make sense anymore... to see teams that are over 0.500 but will never make it to the playoffs....

How do you change it?

[crazyeights]

Stern will say there's a tradition in the East/West sort of thing...that might be true.

But yes, as of right now it is getting pretty ridiculous. And this isn't even a year where Oden or Durant have much of an effect on their teams...the future seems to be out west.

[Sofa King]

I rather keep it how it is. The two top teams are out in the East right now. It could change in a few weeks but thats how I see it right now.

[8'sReverse]

Stern will say there's a tradition in the East/West sort of thing...that might be true.

But yes, as of right now it is getting pretty ridiculous. And this isn't even a year where Oden or Durant have much of an effect on their teams...the future seems to be out west.

Stern - "But the East has stars such as Wade, James, and Howard."

[DEEP3CL]

If it ain't broke don't try to fix it. If you want your team to make the playoffs then win more games plain and simple.

Yeah it's messed up that maybe two teams in the West probably won't make the playoff even though they'll have a record above .500, but things won't change until the East toughens up.

[feoekells2]

D Stern will never do anything that could make Lebron's trip to the finals any harder.

[CITYOFANGELSX3]

Why is it that the west is clearly more dominant. Sure the Heat and the Pistons won the NBA finals. But there is clearly more talent and better overall teams than in the East. Its been that way for atleast the last 9 years or so. Will it ever change??

[LLcoleJ]

changing the playoffs is stupid

[LakerFanSince84]

Keep it how it is. I hate when people who don't have a clue of what they're talking about(the media) try and start nonsense. There's no way I'd change the structure. Competition never hurt anybody, whether it's all in one conference or spread amongst the two conferences. Two years ago, everyone thought the west was super dominant, and the Heat won the championship. When the lakers made it to the finals with Malone and Payton, everyone thought we would win, but the Pistons won.

If stern wanted to keep his fan base, he wouldn't change a thing. That includes opening the league to these Euro teams too!

[Sofa King]

changing the playoffs is stupid

Warning for hurting the feelings of the changing playoffs

[LLcoleJ]

-= original quote snipped =-



Warning for hurting the feelings of the changing playoffs

I will post what ever the heck I want to post, playoff homer.

[snaquille oatmeal]

if the playoffs started today which version of the playoffs would you rather see?

as is:
East
Boston-New Jersey
Cleveland-Toronto

Detroit-ATL
Orlando-Wizards


west
Suns-Warriors
Dallas-Denver

New Orleans-Lakers
Utah-San Antonio



vs as should be:

Boston-Sacramento
Orlando-Denver

Suns-Toronto
San Antonio-Houston


Dallas-Portland
Detroit-Wizards

New Orleans-Cleveland
Lakers-Warriors

as is you already know that Boston or maybe Detroit would come out of the East and the West as a toss up between SA, LA, Suns, Mavs.

in the new version the only thing you can guarantee is the top eight coming out on top in the first round after that is 7 game series all the way.

I think if Stern is interested in TV ratings he should change it up.

[milesfides]

I say division leaders are guaranteed a playoff spot, plus one wild card; the rest should be seeded according to record. That ought to keep things locally competitive.

I think it's a bit unfair to the fans of Denver, Houston or Golden State who might not make it, as they see much inferior teams such as Washington, Atlanta, and New Jersey make it in the east.

They play in a tougher conference, they have a better record, but they don't make it to the playoffs. Sounds like a raw deal and a flawed system to me.

In the past, I felt the Lakers-Kings were the best two teams in the league, and they deserved to play in the finals. Or the Lakers-Spurs. It's lame when the Finals are a letdown.

If the Pistons-Celtics are the two best teams in the league, then they deserve to play in the Finals too.

It also makes the playoffs less boring, because you tend to have similar matchups year-to-year.

[numbas]

I say division leaders are guaranteed a playoff spot, plus one wild card; the rest should be seeded according to record. That ought to keep things locally competitive.

I think it's a bit unfair to the fans of Denver, Houston or Golden State who might not make it, as they see much inferior teams such as Washington, Atlanta, and New Jersey make it in the east.

They play in a tougher conference, they have a better record, but they don't make it to the playoffs. Sounds like a raw deal and a flawed system to me.

In the past, I felt the Lakers-Kings were the best two teams in the league, and they deserved to play in the finals. Or the Lakers-Spurs. It's lame when the Finals are a letdown.

If the Pistons-Celtics are the two best teams in the league, then they deserve to play in the Finals too.

It also makes the playoffs less boring, because you tend to have similar matchups year-to-year.

completly agree esspecially when if a team over .500 doesnt make it then people say well then u gotta win more games but if u have a better record and r playing better teams if ur in the west then y should that team be screwed over the east team who has a worse record playing worse teams

[FSUNOLE03]

I dont think they should change the original format of East V West

I DO think they should reseed after each round. Everyone knows last year Spurs v Suns should have been the WCF.

[ocoast2005]

I also would like to see the format changed.

best 2 teams in the league should play the finals ,how many times we see
either east or west dominate the final.. boring.
even if it means 2 teams from east or west meet in the championship series.
play offs are about match ups and styles .teams shoud be seeded according to thier records and let them have at it.
sure would make it more exciting and reward teams for working hard to have winning records.
also would prevent clubs from setting up thier rosters to match the teams they expect to play.

[KB20]

I say division leaders are guaranteed a playoff spot, plus one wild card; the rest should be seeded according to record. That ought to keep things locally competitive.

I think it's a bit unfair to the fans of Denver, Houston or Golden State who might not make it, as they see much inferior teams such as Washington, Atlanta, and New Jersey make it in the east.

They play in a tougher conference, they have a better record, but they don't make it to the playoffs. Sounds like a raw deal and a flawed system to me.

In the past, I felt the Lakers-Kings were the best two teams in the league, and they deserved to play in the finals. Or the Lakers-Spurs. It's lame when the Finals are a letdown.

If the Pistons-Celtics are the two best teams in the league, then they deserve to play in the Finals too.

It also makes the playoffs less boring, because you tend to have similar matchups year-to-year.

+1

They also need to reseed after each round. That would make the playoffs so much better and at the end we would know we're getting the top 2 teams in the league that year in the Finals.

How it would be today

1. Boston
2. Detroit
3. Phoenix
4. New Orleans
5. Dallas
6. Los Angeles
7. San Antonio
8. Utah
9. Denver
10. Orlando
11. Golden State
12. Houston
13. Cleveland
14. Portland
15. Toronto
16. Washington

Playoff Matchups for the 1st Round

Boston vs. Washington (Washington in 7)
Utah vs. Denver (Utah in 6)

San Antonio vs. Orlando (San Antonio in 5)
Los Angeles vs. Golden State (Los Angeles in 6)

Dallas vs. Houston (Houston in 7)
New Orleans vs. Cleveland (Cleveland in 7)

Phoenix vs. Portland (Phoenix in 6)
Detroit vs. Toronto (Detroit in 6)

Those matchups would be really entertaining and only one is decided in 5 games, the rest are all 6 or 7 game series. Each matchup has a chance for an upset.

Reseeded 2nd round

Detroit vs. Washington (Detroit in 6)
San Antonio vs. Utah (San Antonio in 7)

Los Angeles vs. Houston (Los Angeles in 6)
Phoenix vs. Cleveland (Phoenix in 7)

Again, 4 really exciting series that can go any way on any given night. The next round would be even better.

Detroit vs. San Antonio (Detroit in 7)
Los Angeles vs. Phoenix (Los Angeles in 7)

2 7 game series lead to the finals. That's how you know you have the best of the best.

Detroit vs. Los Angeles (Los Angeles in 7)

Another 7 game series and this time it's to win it all.

That would be an exciting playoffs. Of the 15 matchups, there were 8 7 games series and 6 6 game series. Hopefully someone in the league catches on and makes a change.

[LLcoleJ]

I say division leaders are guaranteed a playoff spot, plus one wild card; the rest should be seeded according to record. That ought to keep things locally competitive.

I think it's a bit unfair to the fans of Denver, Houston or Golden State who might not make it, as they see much inferior teams such as Washington, Atlanta, and New Jersey make it in the east.

They play in a tougher conference, they have a better record, but they don't make it to the playoffs. Sounds like a raw deal and a flawed system to me.

In the past, I felt the Lakers-Kings were the best two teams in the league, and they deserved to play in the finals. Or the Lakers-Spurs. It's lame when the Finals are a letdown.

If the Pistons-Celtics are the two best teams in the league, then they deserve to play in the Finals too.

It also makes the playoffs less boring, because you tend to have similar matchups year-to-year.

I actually typed up a long response but I fugured it would just lead to fighting opinions.

I will just say this.. I dont agree with that and to make such drastic knee jerk changes because the balance of power is in the West.

[josemendoza88]

I personally love the way it is right now, It makes the west very exciting to watch, especially now with the shaq-gasol panic rushing through the other 8 .500+ teams in the west.

this is the most entertaining and competitive basketball we have had in a while, who cares about the east anyway? It'll end up being the celtics or detroit no matter what. Why not just have extremely exciting matchups throughout the western conference playoffs and then a great finals with whoever comes out between boston and detroit?

[hermes]

-= original quote snipped =-



Warning for hurting the feelings of the changing playoffs

the playoffs are fine