NBA changes playoff seeding format
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by user DRE-LO
The NBA has finally parted with the horrendous playoff seeding format. With the previous format, the three division winners were automatically granted the top 3 seeds in the conference. The Denver Nuggets were the #3 seed in the Western Conference although they were clearly and I do mean CLEARLY not the third best team in the West. I believe that what really put this format to death was the great series between San Antonio and Dallas who were clearly the two best teams in the West. But the original format had the Mavericks as the #4 seed and thus forced to face top seeded San Antonio in the 2nd round. A series in which I still think was one of the classic series in playoff history was ironically played in the 2nd round. Kudos to David Stern for at least heeding the complaints of NBA teams and doing what's best for the league by nixing last year's format.
However, this new format still has a major flaw. The top 3 division winners in the conference can finish no lower than the #4 seed in the conference! Thus, a problem can still arise if a team with the 2nd best regular season record besides the division winners has a better record than a team with the worst record of the division winners. So although the NBA made the seeding a bit better at the top, there are still conflicts that could arise. The seeding should be completely based on your W/L record in the reg. season no matter if you've won the division or not. I still give credit to Stern for at least modifying the format even though there are still flaws.
Now if only MLB can follow suit and nix the homefield advantage stipulation in the All-Star Game.....
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2537369
Date
Wed 08/02/06, 1:00 pm EST
