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The 2-3-2 Format...Yay or Nay

14
Vote

by user Wtt02005

Unlike the rest of the playoffs, the NBA finals are done in a 2-3-2 format. This means 2 games for the team with the home court advantage, 3 games for the road team, and then 2 games for the home team. The other series are done in a 2-2-1-1-1 format. Why exactly are the NBA Finals different?

In lieu of the NBA playoff seedings changing for next season, I think the NBA should also change back to the 2-2-1-1-1 format. Because the Eastern Conference Champions and Western Conference Champions only play one another for 2 games during the season, the series is generally a boxing match for the first two games. One team wins the first round, and the other wins the second round. This results in a 1-1 tie in the first two games, leaving the home team in an extreme disadvantage because the next three games are with the road team.

It is much easier to steal a road victory earlier on, so the road team's mentality is to "steal and then have three games at home." This puts the home team at a disadvantage because they MUST WIN GAMES 1 AND 2.

Of course, I do believe the best team always comes out of top, but it's a little odd that the playoffs are in the same format except for the NBA Finals.


Date

Mon 06/19/06, 7:14 pm EST

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RoblefkoLegend
1264 days ago
Score -1+-
It's hard to win 3 games in a row which means the team with games 3-5 are at a disadvatanges because chances are they will lose 1 of them (this year was only the second time ever that the team won games 3-5 at home)
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XtinctWaterboy
1263 days ago
Score 0+-
True, that this is only the second time it has happened but that is largely due to the fact that I believe 2003 or 2004 was when they switched to the 2-3-2 format. This means before those years, a team would have to defend their court AND steal one on the road. I think you'll see plenty more 3-5 sweeps in coming years.....
Permalink
Wtt02005Varsity
1264 days ago
Score 3+-
I think the finals format should be equal. 2 Games for you, 2 Games for you, and then back and forth.
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Wtt02005Varsity
1264 days ago
Score 1+-
2 games for you, and then 3 games for you, and then back to 2 doesnt seem to give teams a fair shot.
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Awrigh01All-Star
1264 days ago
Score -1+-
I think that other than the NBA finals sall the series should be 5 game series. And, if the NBA wanted to restore some integrity to their season, they would cut back on the number of teams that can make the playoffs.
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DRE-LOAAA-er
1264 days ago
Score 2+-
They need to get rid of this silly format. Take this series for instance that was tied 2-2 going into Game 5. Game 5 is a pivotal game and thus it's only fair that it'd be played in Dallas who has the home court advantage. If Miami wins this pivotal game and goes up 3-2, they should definitely have a chance to clinch the title at home. The 2-2-1-1 format was used for the rest of the playoffs. The NHL uses the same format all the way through, why can't the NBA?
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CoreyisarealboyMajor Leaguer
1264 days ago
Score 1+-
I don't agree with the 2-3-2 format, but I'll play devil's advocate for a minute...Perhaps the format is purposely used to negate home court advantage and even out the teams. This way if a team clinches in four or five games, we certainly know who was better. And even in six and seven games, if a team can fight with their backs against the wall and stave off elimination for one game and complete the small comeback, they will be rightfully crowned the best team in the NBA. Obviously, I believe the problem with this is the fact that now Miami has three games worth of momentum headed back to Dallas with only one out of two games to win.
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JuTMSY4Legend
1264 days ago
Score 0+-
That's a great point corey. I gotta go with the 2-2-1-1-1, but to go along with you. Perhaps this format does negate the home court to evenly match the teams. Since they play in different conferences, the team with the best record isn't always best. Meaning that one team got the pleasure of facing a slew of bad teams to bad their stats. In this case it wasn't true but...
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ChachiOSUDraft Pick
1264 days ago
Score 0+-
I think the 2-3-2 is ridiculous. What other major sport changes their format for the championship series? I also think the first two rounds of the playoffs should be best of 5 with only the conference championships and finals being best of 7 (this should apply for baseball too).
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Alex HolowczakHall of Famer
1264 days ago
Score -1+-
I suppose 2-3-2 saves travelling costs, even though 2-2-1-1-1 is fairer. To make it fairer still, it could go 1-1-1-1-1-1-1, but that would tire everyone (jetlag), and increase travelling costs.
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JuTMSY4Legend
1264 days ago
Score 0+-
As if traveling costs were a concern for the NBA finals?!
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CoreyisarealboyMajor Leaguer
1264 days ago
Score 0+-
Yeah, this is a sport that spends millions of dollars making DVDs for players of all their touches during every game in the entire season. Money really isn't a concern.
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EnyboDiv-I Stud
1264 days ago
Score 0+-
1 game, winner take all.
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JuTMSY4Legend
1264 days ago
Score 1+-
And that's why football is the biggest sport (Coincidentally, soccer follows this rule, I think, and it works for them internationally)
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ChristofMVP
1264 days ago
Score -1+-
I rather see the 2-2-1-1-1 series format, but it doesn't really matter. The NBA enusres that the NBA Finals go to 7 games for TV ratings each year.
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Bleeding GreenVarsity
1264 days ago
Score 1+-
I think the 2-3-2 format favors the lower seed. It's not right. If the NHL can travel from Carolina to Edmonton and back... The NBA can go from Miami to Dallas.
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