A proposal to fix the current playoff problem(Not a top 16)

MagicFan32 · Post #1 » by **MagicFan32** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 7:16 am

My idea is for the NBA to mandate for any team to make the playoffs that they must finish .500 or better, if they don't a team from the other conference that is above .500 gets a slot.

This way, teams like Portland who are in reality, good teams will still have something to play for, and a team like GSW or Denver will not be wrongfully screwed at of the playoffs as long as a team from the opposing conference does not meet the 41 win plateau.

Over the last few days i've been watching coverage of the playoff races, and too me it is wrong that the Bulls have a chance to make the playoffs, while the Blazers do not.

This rule would prevent the NBA from embarassing itself, and at the same time reward teams for winning, odds are it wouldn't happen often so it wouldn't exactly be that radical.

Post #2 » by **King Roosk** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 7:21 am

MagicFan32 wrote:My idea is for the NBA to mandate for any team to make the playoffs that they must finish .500 or better, if they don't a team from the other conference that is above .500 gets a slot.

This way, teams like Portland who are in reality, good teams will still have something to play for, and a team like GSW or Denver will not be wrongfully screwed at of the playoffs as long as a team from the opposing conference does not meet the 41 win plateau.

Over the last few days i've been watching coverage of the playoff races, and too me it is wrong that the Bulls have a chance to make the playoffs, while the Blazers do not.

This rule would prevent the NBA from embarassing itself, and at the same time reward teams for winning, odds are it wouldn't happen often so it wouldn't exactly be that radical.

And if 16 teams don't finish above .500, then what?

I know a lot of people are unhappy with the disparity between the WC and the EC, but that's how professional sports in this country are, and honestly I love it. Sometimes it sucks, but take a step back and look at the situation. Years from now, this season is going to be remembered for how insanely competetive it's been...and that's special. Without conferences we never would have gotten the privilege of seeing rivalries develop, and rivalries are great for sports.

Maybe I'm old fashioned, but I want things to stay the way they are. Although, I will say that the division leader rule is stupid. If you're winning your division, but the 4th place team in another division has a better record, then that team with the better record should be seeded higher.

Post #3 » by **SOUL** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 7:32 am

^I agree, nothing much was said of it when every team 1-8 was good to great. If we had that this year the West wouldn't be as competitive as it is.

Jemini80 · Post #4 » by **Jemini80** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 7:38 am

the draft usually balances out the power of the East and West, however the league has never been with this kind of disparity really. I mean the West is stacked in a way that forces its worse teams to have absolutely horrible records. Thank god the schedule isn't set up like how baseball schedules are where you mainly play conference and division opponents. I am worried though that the Oden to Portland selection will continue the shift of power to the West for the next 5 years. I just don't see any players in the next 2 drafts (besides Rose and Rubio) who could possibly turn a team around, which is what crappy east teams need.

Kabookalu · Post #5 » by **Kabookalu** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 8:33 am

The 5th worst team in the West (Sacramento) would be 8th in the East lol.

Ming Kong! · Post #6 » by **Ming Kong!** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 8:38 am

Choker wrote:The 5th worst team in the West (Sacramento) would be 8th in the East lol.

The 6th worst team in the west, the Blazers would be in 5th. Even crazier :-P

. Oh and of course even higher if they didn't have to schedule of a western conference team.

pr0wler · Post #7 » by **pr0wler** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 8:39 am

What's even funnier is that the best players in the draft haven't been going to the East the past couple years even though they have been dominated by the west.

2007 Draft (notable names so far))

West: Greg Oden, Kevin Durant, Al Thornton, Jeff Green, Mike Conley, Brandan Wright, Spencer Hawes

East: Al Horford, Yi Jianlian, Thaddeus Young, Joakim Noah, Nick Young

2006 Draft (notable names so far)

West: LaMarcus Aldridge, Brandon Roy, Rudy Gay, Randy Foye, Ronnie Brewer, Kyle Lowry, Jordan Farmar

East: Andrea Bargnani, Tyrus Thomas, Adam Morrison, Thabo Sefolosha, Shawne Williams, Rajon Rondo, Daniel Gibson

Even though the east has had their share of top picks they haven't done a good job drafting. In 2006 they've had the #1, 2, 3, and 5 picks which has amounted out to nothing but solid role players so far. Meanwhile the west is selecting gems like Roy, Gay, and Thornton. Not only is the east losing in terms of record but things might get worse as their draft pick selection has been awful. And in 2008, 3 of the top 4 worst teams are from the West. There are probably only a few top talents in this draft (Beasley, Rose, Mayo) so unless the east gets lucky with the lottery balls they could be out of luck again.