A topic which has been discussed recently is the situation that occurs when the playoff teams are seeded. Due to there being three divisions in each conference, we all know that those top teams get the first three seeds in the playoffs, which frequently leaves more deservant teams out of the picture. This issue has been magnified this season with Dallas and San Antonio having terrific seasons in the west, however, since they are in the same division, one will end up with the first seed in the playoffs whilst the other is left with the fourth seed. What if the league switched back to the old format of four divisions, two in each conference..This could help solve this issue, but would it be a decision you would support? The problem here is currently the league has 30 teams which would leave one division in each conference with 7 teams and the other with 8. Perhaps this would call for the addition of two teams (or the subtraction of two?) to make the divisions equal. This is purely hypothetical, but would this type of change be beneficial to the league?
Wouldnt be bad to switch them back. The only reason they made 6 divisons because Hornets went west and Bobcats came around. I would rather have 4 divisions. Becuase then you could go by raw power rankings on where you get seeded in the playoffs. This way they have it right now is quite unfair
Or instead of switching it back, you could just make it based on record alone. so it would be the top 8 best records in the west and the top 8 in the east play. That way you would get the top teams in the playoffs. It would follow the same pattern - the 1st plays the 8th and so on.
Yeah they switched because of New Orleans moving to the West and the addition of the Bobcats, and I think it would be more fair to the playoff teams in getting the playoff seeding they deserve..<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ReppinTheD @ Apr 12 2006, 04:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Or instead of switching it back, you could just make it based on record alone. so it would be the top 8 best records in the west and the top 8 in the east play. That way you would get the top teams in the playoffs. It would follow the same pattern - the 1st plays the 8th and so on.</div>Yeah, but then theres really no value to winning your division. I kind of like how you cant get lower than a certain seed if you win the division, but its clearly unfair for the teams like San Antonio and Dallas who get dropped to a lower seed because of it..Maybe theres some kind of middle ground in between the two that would be a better option..
I was accualyl just playing NBA live 2003 and I saw the 4 divisions...And I hate it. 3 divisions is much better because you have to go against 4 other teams, not 6. Its harder to win the division like that. And I was never of fan of that.
there would be more teams in one division than the other. wouldn't be fair to some teams anyways. It's find the way it is, just the seeding's are messed up.
No. I think less teams in each division is better. With 4 divisions, the seedings would be a little bit awkward I think. It is good like this. I don't see why we need to change it.
I wouldn't go back to the four division format. The easiest way to fix the current problems with the playoff seedings is to either 1) make the seeding based solely on overall team records, or 2) make division titles mean more than they do now.Explanations:1. Obviously this would be the easiest way to solve the problem, as it will seed teams based on their overall performance rather than penalizing a team (Dallas) for being great but being stuck in the same division as the Spurs. This will also get the top 8 teams in the conference in the playoffs.2. Back in the day, teams used to play teams within their division six or more times a year. Now, teams play teams in their division four times a year, and other teams in their conference either three or four times a year. Why place such a big emphasis on winning the division when you don't play more divisional games than you do conference games? If the NBA wants to have the three division winners have the top three seeds, then they need to place more of an emphasis on division games and division titles. The biggest problem with this, however, is it will cause a big scheduling mess.
