BigHands wrote:I think quite a few posters are sleeping on this issue.
In the 37 years with a 2-2-1-1-1 format the finals went 7 games 13 times (35.1%).
In the 22 years since the format was changed the finals have gone to 7 games only 3 times (13.6%)
It is very likely there will be no 7th game thus no home court advantage for either Boston or Detroit.
Your point about 3 in a row is well taken but in a 2-2 series game 5 is usually the decision maker and that game will be in LA.
If the home team stumbles in game 1 or 2 (like in the Celtic-Piston series) the team with the best record is in deep trouble right away as there is an extended stretch of away games coming up.
Not only is it crazy to change the format for the finals, then NBA is stupid too because it cost them money (less games).
When you get a minute, you should check and see how many series were won by the team with HCA. Because if the team with the better record was able to steal one of the 3 in a row on the other court, then it's much easier for that team to close out at home in game 6 than on the road in game 6.
Yes, you have an extra home game in 2-2-1-1-1 format through 5 games, but the 2-3-2 format puts a lot more pressure on the road team to have to win 3 in a row at home, if the HCA team wins the first 2 at home. If the HCA team loses one of the 2 at home, then yes, the road team can sweep the 3 games at home to close it out, but at that point, the HCA team has to win 1 on the road in either format and I think it's easier to try and steal one of the 3 in a row than trying to steal one of the 2 or game 6 on the road.
So at the end, I don't think either format really makes a huge difference to either team, but no matter what, one thing is true. The team with 4 home games has an advantage. To think otherwise is absurd.
Let's say the Celtics and the Lakers play in the finals and the NBA decided to screw the HCA team and went to 3-4 format. If you had the choice between playing the first 3 games at home or having 4 latter games at home, I know every single team, coach, player, management, etc. is choosing the latter. Extra home game, no matter the format is an advantage. A big one at that.