This might be the only way to get the Nuggets into the playoffs...
by Andrew Feinstein on Feb 20, 2008 11:18 AM MST
Email
Print
There may only be one way to overcome Coach Karl's deplorable coaching efforts in 2007-08 and still get the Nuggets into the playoffs: RE-DO THE NBA PLAYOFF SEEDING!!Nuggets-bias aside, this has been long overdue. You may have heard a proposal like this before, but I believe I've come up with a fair way to re-seed the NBA Playoffs that would accommodate everyone's needs - the league, the networks and the fans. It simply no longer makes sense that teams 10 games over .500 could miss the postseason, while a few teams 10 games under .500 potentially won't.
I propose the following: Seed 16 playoff teams pan-conference, but give the three division winners, plus one in-conference wild card, the top four seeds within their respective conference.
Under my proposed system, if the playoffs started today (2/20), here is out it would shake out:
I propose the following: Seed 16 playoff teams pan-conference, but give the three division winners, plus one in-conference wild card, the top four seeds within their respective conference.
Under my proposed system, if the playoffs started today (2/20), here is out it would shake out:
WESTERN CONFERENCE AUTOMATIC BIDS
1. New Orleans
2. LA Lakers
3. Utah
4. Phoenix (Wild Card)
EASTERN CONFERENCE AUTOMATIC BIDS
1. Boston
2. Detroit
3. Orlando
4. Cleveland (Wild Card)
This would then leave the following 8 teams, pan-conference, in order per record:
9. San Antonio
10. Dallas
11. Denver
12. Houston
13. Golden State
14. Toronto
15. Portland
16. Washington/Sacramento
As the top non-automatic bid, the Spurs would play the worst record of the eight automatic bids (in this case, Cleveland), while the 16th seeded Wizards/Kings would play the best record overall (Boston), and so on. So our playoff match ups word shake out this way:
WESTERN BRACKET FIRST ROUND
1. New Orleans
vs.
8. Toronto
2. LA Lakers
vs.
7. Golden State
3. Utah
vs.
6. Houston
4. Phoenix
vs.
5. Denver
EASTERN BRACKET FIRST ROUND
1. Boston
vs.
8. Washington/Sacramento
2. Detroit
vs.
7. Portland
3. Orlando
vs.
6. Dallas
4. Cleveland
vs.
5. San Antonio
A couple notes:
-After the first round, there is no re-seeding. The winner of the 1 vs. 8 match up plays the winner of the 4 vs. 5 match up, and so on.
-After the first round, there is no re-seeding. The winner of the 1 vs. 8 match up plays the winner of the 4 vs. 5 match up, and so on.
-To accommodate travel concerns, I would make all series 2-3-2 series.
-This system also disincentives teams to tank games in order to get favorable playoff match ups. By having a 16-seed system, many teams won't know who their first-round opponent will be until the last few games of the regular season.
-The reason for the Wild Card (as opposed to just giving the top three seeds auto bids), is that we need to keep at least four teams within their respective geographical bracket. This benefits the networks as they can broadcast playoff games consistently across four time zones, rather than risk losing 85% of the TV market should three out of the final four teams all be from one conference.
1 comment
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
"Seed 16 playoff teams pan-conference, but give the three division winners, plus one in-conference wild card, the top four seeds within their respective conference."
Check out the NHL's Eastern conference seeding and tell me if divisions winners should still get top seeding. Carolina is tied for 8th/9th in the East, almost out of the playoffs, but because they're in the Southeast division they're seeded third in the conference. This would still apply in your plan for the NBA. Guarantee them a playoff spot, fine, but not a lock on the top three seeds.
Check out the NHL's Eastern conference seeding and tell me if divisions winners should still get top seeding. Carolina is tied for 8th/9th in the East, almost out of the playoffs, but because they're in the Southeast division they're seeded third in the conference. This would still apply in your plan for the NBA. Guarantee them a playoff spot, fine, but not a lock on the top three seeds.
by Ian on Feb 25, 2008 11:02 PM MST reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
The Proprietors
Andrew Feinstein
(denverstiffs@gmail.com)
Nate Timmons
(ntimmons73@yahoo.com)
Andrew Feinstein
(denverstiffs@gmail.com)
Nate Timmons
(ntimmons73@yahoo.com)
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
DENVER STIFFS T-SHIRTS!
Enter your email for updates
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
