[cjg11582]

There is a legitimate chance that half the teams in the eastern conference post-season will have a losing record. This dire set of circumstances has already precipitated a lot of public discussion about changing the format of The NBA playoffs. Not that it will ever happen, but what are everyone else's opinions? I could tolerate cutting it down too twelve total teams with the top two seeds in each conference receiving a bye (This would leave one, posiibly two losing teams in the playoffs).
One thing I find interesating about this format is its a carbon copy of the NFL playoff system, where some talking heads are advocating for more teams to get in. It seems like keeping things consistent is the best philosophy because the best possible playoff format for The NBA fluctuates annualy. Mike Greenberg was advocating for cutting the playoff teams in half, which seems extreme.
It is irrefutable that this is a down year for the east, but anything that dramatic seems a little caustic. The only two modifications I would make would be to bring the first round back to a best-of-five series (so the already lengthy playoffs are shorter by just a little) and the teams with the best records get top billing in the playoffs, not necessarily the division winners. Is it discouraging that teams under .500 are reaching the playoffs? Yes, of course it is. But revamping the playoffs isn't the answer, owners hiring competent GM's is.
So who agrees with the latter Mike of Mike and Mike? Should the playoffs be cut in half? We are less than two weeks away from the playoffs and The NBA is the least discussed topic on this website. So is that telling of the fan disinterest in the opening rounds?

[legend]

It could be indicative of a lack of interest in the pro game overall. I know that I have not really paid much attention to the NBA over recent years, at least not since the Lakers broke up Shaq and Kobe. The quality of play is down in my opinion, and I really do not care who wins. The season is at least 10 games too long and the playoffs last two months! The owners will never part with the revenue the added rounds bring, but there are only about 4 teams of the sixteen with a legitamate shot to win the title. The Pistons and Heat, with the heat only a slight chance of ever gettig by Detroit in the East. The Spurs and Mavericks out West. So its almost like the first couple of rounds are like watching a movie that you have already seen nine times, to the point where there is no interest, at least not on my part.

[cjg11582]

Thats true, but is it really that much different than any other pro sport? Does the aggregate of teams who can win a title any given year in any pro sport ever exceed six or seven? Baseball can probably be widdled down to that right now and we are only eleven days into the season. The NBA playoffs have been mundane as of late, but I do not think it is the playoff format. They were thriving in the 80's and all the way through 1998, no one seemed to mind then. Personally I think the influx of players skipping college has hurt the league more than anything. It has at least deterred its fan base.

[legend]

I am all for Mike Greenberg's plan. Why reward teams for their ineptitude and poor play? And encourage them to throw games like the Cavs did to get Lebron James? Cut the season to 70 games, 8 teams in the playoffs and they are over by mid-May. Make the regular season mean something for a change.

[cjg11582]

So you didn't like The NBA in the 80's and 90's either?

[legend]

The 80s had good many good and competitive series in the early rounds, with upsets possible. The Celtics, Lakers and 76ers all were beaten at one point or another before the conference finals. And the conference finals were almost always must see affairs, like Spurs- Lakers or 76ers- Celtics. If you took those teams from the 80s and the teams today, how many players today would play on any of those teams? Which Piston today is going to replace a Celtic or Laker in the starting line-up. Ben Wallace over Jabbar? Chauncy Billups over Magic? Richard Hamilton over Kevin McHale? If you took the Pistons, Heat, Spurs, and Mavericks of today, the four top teams in the league, you would have four players from those teams that could start on the top teams of the 80s-Shaq, Wade, Duncan,and Nowitski. As for the 90s, Jordan won six titles, but they were never dull. Watch the ratings for these playoffs and see how low they go.

[cjg11582]

Exactly, so lets pretend they change the playoffs to eight total teams, two or three years from now when the early rounds of the playoffs are deemed entertaining again should The NBA just reinstate the 16 teams? Every sport has ups and downs in terms of excitement. The NBA has been somewhat ruddish for the past two or three years (with a few exceptions), but there is no need for a massive overhaul of the playoffs.