My Idea for a New Playoff Format

[KB20]

I think that it is almost inevitable we go to a top 16 playoff format. One thing that will need to change, however, if that happens is the regular season format. Conferences would be eliminated but what about individual divisions? I say you re-align those with the Sonics moving to Oklahoma City.

My new divisions

Atlantic
Boston Celtics
New Jersey Nets
New York Knicks
Philadelphia 76ers
Washington Wizards

Central
Chicago Bulls
Cleveland Cavaliers
Detroit Pistons
Indiana Pacers
Toronto Raptors

Southeast
Atlanta Hawks
Charlotte Bobcats
Memphis Grizzlies
Miami Heat
Orlando Magic

Southwest
Dallas Mavericks
Houston Rockets
Oklahoma City Sonics
New Orleans Hornets
San Antonio Spurs

Midwest
Denver Nuggets
Milwaukee Bucks
Minnesota Timberwolves
Utah Jazz
Phoenix Suns

Pacific
Golden State Warriors
Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Clippers
Portland Trail Blazers
Sacramento Kings

With these new divisions you'll need a new setup for the regular season. Teams should play each other 3 times each. To keep the regular season at 82 games, however, each division will be assigned one division which it will only play twice. This will rotate every year. As they rotate which division they play twice, they will also rotate which division gets the 2 home games. In the end, teams should still get 41 home and 41 away games.

On to the playoffs. My biggest concern about a top 16 team bracket, is reseeding. A current bracket of 16 would have the 2nd and 3rd teams meet in the 2nd round would be like last year's Spurs/Suns matchup when they should've met in the WCF. Reseeding would reward teams who do well in the regular season.

Here is how the bracket would look like for this season:

1.Boston Celtics
2. Detroit Pistons
3. Los Angeles Lakers
4. New Orleans Hornets
5. San Antonio Spurs
6. Houston Rockets
7. Phoenix Suns
8. Utah Jazz
9. Orlando Magic
10. Dallas Mavericks
11. Denver Nuggets
12. Golden State Warriors
13. Cleveland Cavaliers
14. Washington Wizards
15. Portland Trail Blazers (Tiebreaker due to better record against playoff teams)
16. Toronto Raptors

1. Boston Celtics
16. Toronto Raptors

2. Detroit Pistons
15. Portland Trail Blazers

3. Los Angeles Lakers
14. Washington Wizards

4. New Orleans Hornets
13. Cleveland Cavaliers

5. San Antonio Spurs
12. Golden State Warriors

6. Houston Rockets
11. Denver Nuggets

7. Phoenix Suns
10. Dallas Mavericks

8. Utah Jazz
9. Orlando Magic

Reseeding for 2nd Round
1. Boston Celtics
2. Detroit Pistons
3. Los Angeles Lakers
4. New Orleans Hornets
5. San Antonio Spurs
6. Utah Jazz
7. Dallas Mavericks
8. Denver Nuggets

2nd Round

1. Boston Celtics
8. Denver Nuggets

2. Detroit Pistons
7. Dallas Mavericks

3. Los Angeles Lakers
6. Utah Jazz

4. New Orleans Hornets
5. San Antonio Spurs


Reseeding for Semifinals
1. Boston Celtics
2. Los Angeles Lakers
3. San Antonio Spurs
4. Dallas Mavericks

1. Boston Celtics
4. Dallas Mavericks

2. Los Angeles Lakers
3. San Antonio Spurs


NBA Finals
1. Boston Celtics
2. Los Angeles Lakers

[dacher]

Top 16 is not at all inevitable.

East vs West is no different than Baseball - NL vs AL. Football AFC vs NFC. Except in that NBA splits 2 conferences by region.

[KB20]

Top 16 is not at all inevitable.

East vs West is no different than Baseball - NL vs AL. Football AFC vs NFC. Except in that NBA splits 2 conferences by region.

The playoffs are supposed to be the top teams in the league going at it. If the NBA wants to maximize TV ratings and ticket sales, then I'm sure they will change the playoff format.

[Hemingway]

I think the NBA changes things too much as it is. What they need to get their ratings and vaster fan interest is just some good basketball. One thing people like about sports is that when you learn the rules of how things work growing up you have that for your life. So someone who hasn't watched the NBA in a long time can ease back into it and not be confused by why the playoffs are now different and things like that.

The only solution I buy into is the NBA investing in youth basketball. Make it back into a team game and get away from the street game.