NBA Playoffs
Moderator: Team Captains
The NBA and NHL have some similarities regards to their playoff format in that both leagues have two conferences with three divisions in each conference, and both leagues admit 16 teams into the playoffs, 8 from each conference, and the top three seeds in each conference are given to the three division winners. The first round matchups are the same in that it is 1 vs. 8, 2 vs. 7, etc. However, the similarities end there and I have to say that the NHL has a much better designed playoff format.
In the NHL, after the four teams in each conference advance to the second round, the teams are re-seeded and the matchups are set up so that the highest seeded team plays the lowest seeded team while the two middle teams are matched up, and home-ice advantage always goes to the higher seed, regardless of regular season record.
But that is not the case in the NBA. In the NBA, the second round matchups use the following format:
1-8 Winner vs. 4-5 Winner
2-7 Winner vs. 3-6 Winner
In addition, home court advantage is given to the team with the better regular season record, which may not necessarily be the team with the higher seed. So the number 2 and 3 seeds in each conference (two of the division winners) may not necessarily have home court advantage is the 6 and 7 seeded teams have a better record than them.
In the 2006 NBA playoffs, it was clearly more advantageous to finish 6th in the western conference rather than 5th, as discussed in this article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBA_PLAYOF ... ontroversy
In an attempt to fix that problem for this years playoffs, the NBA revised its playoff seeding system for 2007. Under the new rules, the three division winners and top non-division winner are the recipients of the top four seeds based solely upon record (assuring the division winner with the worst record of the three no worse than a 4th seed), with the remaining four teams seeded by won-loss record as well. But home court advantage still goes to the team with the better regular season record. For example in this year's playoffs, 5th seeded Houston Rockets will have home court advantage in their first round matchup against the 4th seeded and Northwest division winner Utah Jazz.
Kudos to the NHL for devising a much fairer playoff system.
In the NHL, after the four teams in each conference advance to the second round, the teams are re-seeded and the matchups are set up so that the highest seeded team plays the lowest seeded team while the two middle teams are matched up, and home-ice advantage always goes to the higher seed, regardless of regular season record.
But that is not the case in the NBA. In the NBA, the second round matchups use the following format:
1-8 Winner vs. 4-5 Winner
2-7 Winner vs. 3-6 Winner
In addition, home court advantage is given to the team with the better regular season record, which may not necessarily be the team with the higher seed. So the number 2 and 3 seeds in each conference (two of the division winners) may not necessarily have home court advantage is the 6 and 7 seeded teams have a better record than them.
In the 2006 NBA playoffs, it was clearly more advantageous to finish 6th in the western conference rather than 5th, as discussed in this article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBA_PLAYOF ... ontroversy
In an attempt to fix that problem for this years playoffs, the NBA revised its playoff seeding system for 2007. Under the new rules, the three division winners and top non-division winner are the recipients of the top four seeds based solely upon record (assuring the division winner with the worst record of the three no worse than a 4th seed), with the remaining four teams seeded by won-loss record as well. But home court advantage still goes to the team with the better regular season record. For example in this year's playoffs, 5th seeded Houston Rockets will have home court advantage in their first round matchup against the 4th seeded and Northwest division winner Utah Jazz.
Kudos to the NHL for devising a much fairer playoff system.
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TheLionKing
- Hall of Famer
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I'm not a basketball game fan but I'm pulling for the Phoenix Suns because of a certain Canadian guard.
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Black99GT
the warriors played well against Dallas in the regular season so it was no surprise that they beat them in the playoffs...smphantom wrote:Go Warriors!
The Jazz played Golden State Warriors game and beat them at it...ill take the Jazz in 6.
The semi-final matchups have now been determined:
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Detroit Pistons
Utah Jazz vs. San Antonio Spurs
Two of those four teams, Cleveland and Utah, have never won the NBA Championship before. However, neither team will have home court advantage in the Conference Finals.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Detroit Pistons
Utah Jazz vs. San Antonio Spurs
Two of those four teams, Cleveland and Utah, have never won the NBA Championship before. However, neither team will have home court advantage in the Conference Finals.
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Dan_Payne_fan!!
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- Joined: Wed Oct 02, 2002 4:57 pm
- Location: Port Moody
the cavs will take it all
2012 Season Ticket Holder
