What the NBA Should Really Do

I think the only way to fix the imbalance of power in the playoff races in the Eastern and Western Conference is to make it a single table league.

There should be no way that the Golden State Warriors can go 48-34 and miss the playoffs by virtually 3 games, while the Atlanta Hawks comfortable made the playoffs at 37-45.

It's the 16 best teams in the playoffs right (and even that should be reduced....more than half of the NBA teams are in the playoffs and that is nonsense)? Make it a single table league (perhaps reduce the # of playoff teams to 12) and eliminate these mediocre sides like the Hawks and the Raptors and so on.

What do you guys think?

LASportsblogAAA-er

572 days ago

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I think it makes the bottom 16 teams in the league pretty meaningless most of the year. There would be a race for the number 1 seed which may or may not be interesting and a race for the 16th seed, but no races for home-court advantage or division winners. You would be removing natural division rivals, you're removing Conference and Division championships which many teams (see: Cavs/Jazz) lean as accomplishments. Honestly, anyone who is over 20 and has been a lifelong NBA fan can tell you this seasons unbalance is quite unusual. A knee-jerk re-formatting is most likely not the best course of action. The NBA playoffs generally work.

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LASportsblogAAA-er

572 days ago

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Single tables are best for promotion/relegation leagues, conferences and divisions are better for playoff leagues, it's just how it is.

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SSreportersLegend

572 days ago

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At least reduce the # of playoff teams because 16/30 is quite ridiculous.

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LASportsblogAAA-er

572 days ago

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Okay, so the NBA won't go to Byes in round 1 - won't happen. You get the owners to agree to let the best teams get a free 7-game pass and see if it flys? So you have to then go all the way down to 8 teams. 4 in each conference? So you're ready to go Lakers,Hornets,Spurs,Jazz and Celts,Pistons,Magic and Wizards? We No Rockets, Cavs, Suns or Mavs this season? 16 isn't perfect, obviously - but the league is gonna add 2 teams sooner then later so it will be half the league, which is better.

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SSreportersLegend

572 days ago

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Still, that would be HALF of the NBA making the playoffs.

The NFL has 12/32 teams in.

The MLB has 8/30.

The NHL also has 16/30, but they don't have the parity problem the NBA has.

The NBA has to do something because seeing the Hawks in with ease and the Nuggets in the #8 spot at 50-32 is inexcusable. You are giving too many teams, too many chances.

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LASportsblogAAA-er

572 days ago

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You are now learning why many casual fans get frustrated with the NBA. Somethings not right? Get the owners to change it. But it's the association so have to get the guys in the smoke filled room to believe that the change behooves them AND the league. It's just impractical and I'm not for what ifs, so what's the point.

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LASportsblogAAA-er

572 days ago

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The NBA SHOULD be focused on:

• Ref quality and integrity

• Ethics in ownership and fan/city relations

• The Clippers

• The stupid rule where if you jump in front of a guy in the lane who has full momentum it's charging (unless it's in the restricted zone), why can't it be a no call?

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Taytay 24All-American

572 days ago

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There is no need to reduce the number of teams, particularly this year. The teams seeded 5-8 in the West are definitely good enough to deserve a shot at the title. You even argue that the Warriors are deserving of a shot. Isn't that why you want to go to a single table?

However, there is really no need because this year is an anomaly. As soon as you change something the balance of power will naturally begin shifting back East. As good as they are, several of the teams in the West are aging and in decline, while the East is young and on the rise.

Save this post, and swap "East" and "West" in a few years you can repost it.

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AlmightyjcVarsity Captain

572 days ago

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The WEST, has Dominated the EAST from top to bottom for several years now.

team with +.500 record per conf. year - west /east 2003 - 9 / 8 2004 - 10 / 4 2005 - 9 / 9 2006 - 9 / 6 2007 - 8 / 5 2008 - 9 / 5

This is not counting .500 team for either conference.

Not an anomaly .

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LASportsblogAAA-er

572 days ago

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Ya and the 90s and most of the late 80s were East dominated, what's your point?

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Taytay 24All-American

572 days ago

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I don't mean the Western dominance over the East is an anomaly, but rather the fact that the West is so stacked that Golden State can win 48 and miss the playoffs.

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SSreportersLegend

572 days ago

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Actually, that was mainly 2 teams, the Bulls and Celtics (Pistons won 2 titles).

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Taytay 24All-American

572 days ago

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And the Western dominance is mainly two teams as well: the Lakers and Spurs. What's the difference? The power shifts in the NBA are cyclical, and sometimes you get a season like this one. Doesn't mean anything needs to be changed.

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SSreportersLegend

572 days ago

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But it's never been this bad before.

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Taytay 24All-American

572 days ago

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Such is life.

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SSreportersLegend

572 days ago

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We'll see what happens 4 years from now....

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LASportsblogAAA-er

572 days ago

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Sorry TayTay, I agree with you, it's AlmightyJC I disagree with

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LASportsblogAAA-er

572 days ago

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Never been this bad? I recall history of a certain Suns team once upon an NBA Schedule who didn't make the playoffs with like 48 wins.

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Taytay 24All-American

572 days ago

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Yeah, I'm with ya, LA. I read you right.

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AlmightyjcVarsity Captain

572 days ago

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If the playoff seeding was done NCAA tourney style, take the top 16, split them into 2 brackets east west what ever. try to keep the sides as close as possible. screw conf champs, only teams that can not win the championship care about that.

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LASportsblogAAA-er

572 days ago

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So wait, take 16 teams, split them east and west and play 1-8 seeded brackets? You mean like we already do? Brilliant!

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AlmightyjcVarsity Captain

572 days ago

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top 16, not best 8 from each. A little different

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LASportsblogAAA-er

572 days ago

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...and that goes back to the points I made above about making regular season games, rivals and divisions irrelevent.

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