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Imo this is how I think the finals would have gone if they kept the 2-3-2 format

The only finals I think it may have changed stuff if 2015 and 2016. In 2015 I don't think the Warriors win both games 4 and 5 on the road so now they have to go home down 3-2 and given LeBron can explode at anytime , a 2-3-2 format could have resulted in the Cavs pulling of a huge upset.

In 2016 its hard for me to see the Cavs coming back from 3-1 down with both games 6 and 7 on the road as I just dont see Warriors dropping two consecutive games on the road here especially given that Draymond would be suspended for the game 5 game in Cleveland and not in Golden State.


2014, 2017-18 were dominant wins for the Spurs and Warriors so I dont see things changing here and Raptors may defeat an injury riddled Warriors in 5 instead of 6 in 2019. 2020 was in a bubble so this is irrelevant and in 2021 Giannis just was to dominant for me seeing anything change here

2015 - Warriors in 6, I think after adjustment in Game 4 they figured out the Cavs and win back to back road games to go up 3-2

2016 - this is the one that changes as Draymond is injured for Cleveland game unless you think Lebron was evil genius and somehow would have planned to lure Draymond into a tech the next game. Warriors in 6.

2017 and 2018 are the same

2019 - This is actually interesting if you think the Warriors can get it to Game 6, and then the Raptors have trouble finishing with pressure of home fans like they did in Game 5. However the flip side is the Raptors may have won in 5 if they were comfortable on the road in a series that's a beatdown like 2004 Pistons and 2014 Spurs. I'll say Durant inspires Warriors to Game 5 win but after the Raptors blow their first chance at eliminating Warriors they learn from it and win it in 6 at home.

2020 - same as the Heat won Game 5 in LA down 3-1, which would be a home game in this scenario

2021 - same, this plays out like 2006 finals where the Suns lose all three road games to go down 3-2 and then Bucks close it out

Slightly off topic, but I want to see a 2-2-3 format

2 at home
2 away
3 at home

Reduce travel for players and media, and give an even better advantage to the team with the better regular season record. Players/coaches/teams will think twice about coasting in the regular season.

oaktownwarriors87 wrote:Slightly off topic, but I want to see a 2-2-3 format

2 at home
2 away
3 at home

Reduce travel for players and media, and give an even better advantage to the team with the better regular season record. Players/coaches/teams will think twice about coasting in the regular season.

This would be grossly unfair if Team A has 55 wins and Team B has like 53-54 wins and the two teams didn’t play the same schedule (and they wouldn’t as NBA finalists from two different conferences wouldn’t). Team A, by virtue of 1 more win, would get 71% of the home games as opposed to the current 57%. Does that seem fair?

homecourtloss wrote:

oaktownwarriors87 wrote:Slightly off topic, but I want to see a 2-2-3 format

2 at home
2 away
3 at home

Reduce travel for players and media, and give an even better advantage to the team with the better regular season record. Players/coaches/teams will think twice about coasting in the regular season.

This would be grossly unfair if Team A has 55 wins and Team B has like 53-54 wins and the two teams didn’t play the same schedule (and they wouldn’t as NBA finalists from two different conferences wouldn’t). Team A, by virtue of 1 more win, would get 71% of the home games as opposed to the current 57%. Does that seem fair?

It's totally unfair but is a brilliant way to incentivize top-tier teams to try hard in the REG SEA.

ronnymac2 wrote:

homecourtloss wrote:

oaktownwarriors87 wrote:Slightly off topic, but I want to see a 2-2-3 format

2 at home
2 away
3 at home

Reduce travel for players and media, and give an even better advantage to the team with the better regular season record. Players/coaches/teams will think twice about coasting in the regular season.

This would be grossly unfair if Team A has 55 wins and Team B has like 53-54 wins and the two teams didn’t play the same schedule (and they wouldn’t as NBA finalists from two different conferences wouldn’t). Team A, by virtue of 1 more win, would get 71% of the home games as opposed to the current 57%. Does that seem fair?

It's totally unfair but is a brilliant way to incentivize top-tier teams to try hard in the REG SEA.

Yes, but you have unequal schedules based on conferences and a difference of one or two games which could also be down to injury luck giving one team 71% of the home games in a league that has the biggest home court advantage effect seems…inequitable.

oaktownwarriors87 wrote:Slightly off topic, but I want to see a 2-2-3 format

2 at home
2 away
3 at home

Reduce travel for players and media, and give an even better advantage to the team with the better regular season record. Players/coaches/teams will think twice about coasting in the regular season.

Pretty horrible idea.

I think 3-3-1 would be cool.

I wouldn't do it in basketball but the MLB having a system where the better record gets every home game in a series would be cool and make the regular season more important

homecourtloss wrote:

oaktownwarriors87 wrote:Slightly off topic, but I want to see a 2-2-3 format

2 at home
2 away
3 at home

Reduce travel for players and media, and give an even better advantage to the team with the better regular season record. Players/coaches/teams will think twice about coasting in the regular season.

This would be grossly unfair if Team A has 55 wins and Team B has like 53-54 wins and the two teams didn’t play the same schedule (and they wouldn’t as NBA finalists from two different conferences wouldn’t). Team A, by virtue of 1 more win, would get 71% of the home games as opposed to the current 57%. Does that seem fair?

100% fair. They play 82 games to gain an advantage. That advantage should be significant. Currently it is so insignificant that teams don't even try and just rest-n-coast.

Also, my Warriors lost the NBA Finals by two wins or less, twice. Saying that it's unfair that an nba season may be determined by 2 games is ridiculous. That **** happens ever season.

Each team is guaranteed two games. The extra games, if necessary, goes to the team with the better record.

We can keep the NBA Finals 2-2-1-1-1, though. Those games area already spaced further apart. The rest need to be 2-2-3.

Colbinii wrote:

oaktownwarriors87 wrote:Slightly off topic, but I want to see a 2-2-3 format

2 at home
2 away
3 at home

Reduce travel for players and media, and give an even better advantage to the team with the better regular season record. Players/coaches/teams will think twice about coasting in the regular season.

Pretty horrible idea.

I think 3-3-1 would be cool.

That's interesting. That is a severe advantage to the home team.

mdonnelly1989 wrote:

Colbinii wrote:

oaktownwarriors87 wrote:Slightly off topic, but I want to see a 2-2-3 format

2 at home
2 away
3 at home

Reduce travel for players and media, and give an even better advantage to the team with the better regular season record. Players/coaches/teams will think twice about coasting in the regular season.

Pretty horrible idea.

I think 3-3-1 would be cool.

That's interesting. That is a severe advantage to the home team.

Not really. The idea plays into "a series starts once the home team loses".

I'm also very aware of other sports where the home team has full HCA.

Maybe 1984 and 1985 switch