David Stern: New Playoff Seeding Next Season

[CircleCitysportsfan]

I understand why people want it changed but imo it makes the already-too-long regular season even more yawn-inducing, if the reg season has no bearing on the strategic aspect of seperate East/West bracketing.

In my perfect league, the NBA season would be like 52 games or some such number, with best of 5 playoff series.

So what's going to make up for the millions in dollars in lost revenue??? That's why the season is so long. And it's never changing.


As for the new format, i'd be all for it. This way we get the best 16 teams and the best 2 teams in the finals every year. I wonder if the East vs West matchups would be in the current finals 2-3-2 format????

[lovehoops01]

It only works if you have winners from both conferences. If the Celtics and Pistons are the only East teams to make it out of the first round and then lose to Western Conference teams, not very many people in the East will watch the playoffs because they will have no vested interest, and the ratings for the Finals and perhaps the semifinals will be worse than they already are.

Plus if the East still has eight teams in the playoffs, they aren't getting any better lottery picks.

Does any other sport do this? No. There's probably a good reason for that.

Why didn't we hear about this when the East teams were dominating? That makes me believe that West teams are behind this change because they believe it benefits them. I see no reason that the teams in the East would be behind it so I don't really expect it to be approved.

[Muzzleshot]

Some of you are giving Stern too much power.
Stern marches to the beat of the owners and if the owners don't want this playoff change to take place it won't.
Why would an owner in the east vote for this change when it would make it more difficult for them to make the playoffs in coming years (Indiana, Philly) or make it more difficult for them to get to the Finals (Detroit, Boston)?

The NFL and MLB have had two conferences/leagues meet in the Final game(s) since just about forever. Last time I checked they were both more successful as far as ratings and have had a similar disparity between the two conferences/leagues.

[P2]

So we would still face the Hawks in the First Round. And it would be harder for the Celtics to get to the Finals, but I still like it.

[snaquille oatmeal]

check out this thread

http://www.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?t=776864&start=0

[Whateva]

so, all the teams should play against each other the same number of games, regardless the Conference, not just the playoffs but the whole regular season, this way a #5 seed , is a #5 seed in the NBA not just in the East/West. Thats fair now.
Now, teams like Atlanta can to playoffs, while Golden State or Denver are borderline playoff teams in the West.