I wrote a few seasons ago about how the first round of the NBA Playoffs didn’t matter. That ultimately, every champion always comes down to a team seeded 1-4, from each conference:
Just look at the history of the Finals and who has actually gotten to compete for a championship (I will spare you all of the repeat Warriors vs. Cavaliers series, which have all been #1 vs. #1 or #2):
2014 – #1 San Antonio Spurs vs. #1 Miami Heat
2013 – #2 San Antonio Spurs vs. #1 Miami Heat
2012 – #2 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. #2 Miami Heat
2011 – #3 Dallas Mavericks vs. #2 Miami Heat
2010 – #1 Los Angeles Lakers vs. #4 Boston Celtics
2009 – #1 Los Angeles Lakers vs. #3 Orlando Magic
2008 – #1 Los Angeles Lakers vs. #1 Boston Celtics
2007 – #3 San Antonio Spurs vs. #2 Cleveland Cavaliers
2006 – #4 Dallas Mavericks vs. #2 Miami Heat
2005 – #2 San Antonio Spurs vs. #2 Detroit Pistons
2004 – #2 Los Angeles Lakers vs. #3 Detroit Pistons
I then hastily proposed that the league should only allow four teams to compete in the NBA Playoffs. I had the right idea, but it was a bad decision. In my defense, I was so sick of watching the first round of the 2018 Playoffs, I’m surprised I didn’t propose something more drastic.
To their credit, the NBA at least recognizes that their playoff format is broken, because in November, they announced that they are toying with ways to fix it. Of the proposed “sweeping, dramatic changes to the league calendar”, the league will entertain ideas that include:
- A reseeding of the four conference finalists
- A 30-team in-season tournament
- A post-season play-in
Since the NBA abruptly ended their season this past March, The Ringers’ own Kevin O’Connor has recently written why he believes a new proposed idea involving a World Cup style Group Selection could work in place of the current playoff structure.
Now, let me explain to you why each idea is stupid: