The NBA Needs to Change Its Playoff Format... NOW

One great thing about the NBA and commissionerMavericks.The NBA cannot allow this to happen
David Stern is that they fix mistakes with theiragain. It's an embarrassment to their game and to
game. Case in point - in 2003 the NBA switchedall things sports. There should never be a game
the first round of the playoffs from awhere it is in each teams best interest to lose. So
best-of-five game series to a best-of-seven towhat do I propose?The most simple and logical
help ensure that the better team advances.solution to this problem is to guarantee each
That's why it's mind boggling to wonder why theydivision winner a spot in the playoffs, but then
won't change the playoff format to account forseed the teams based on their records with the
debacles like this season.If a non-sports fan tookhighest seed always having home court. All ties in
a quick check at the 2006 Western Conferencerecord would go to the division winner. This still
Standings and then the Playoff bracket, theymakes winning the division important - it
would scratch their heads in disbelief. The Dallasguarantees you a spot in the playoffs and the
Mavericks had the second best record in theupper hand in tie breakers - but also ensures that
conference at 60-22, three games behindthe best teams get the best seeds and home
conference leading San Antonio. The Denvercourt advantage. I liken it to the NCAA
Nuggets were 44-38, 19 games behind SanTournament - winning the Big Ten or the ACC
Antonio. Yet, come playoff time the Nuggetsdoesn't guarantee you a number one seed, it
were the #3 seed while the Mavericks were theguarantees you a spot in the tournament.Here's
#4 seed. All because Dallas happens to play in thewhat the seeding looked like this year:1. *San
same division as San Antonio and the top threeAntonio (63-19)2. *Phoenix (54-28)3. *Denver
seeds HAVE TO be division winners. So now(44-38)4. Dallas (60-22)5. Memphis (49-33)6. LA
Dallas and San Antonio are meeting in the secondClippers (47-35)7. LA Lakers (45-37)8.
round of the playoffs as opposed to the WesternSacramento (44-38)
Conference Championship, where the two best*Division WinnerHere's what it would have looked
teams should be meeting.To add to the chaos,like in my proposed system:1. *San Antonio
the #6 seeded LA Clippers had a better record(63-19)2. Dallas (60-22)3. *Phoenix (54-28)4.
than the #3 seed Nuggets. Therefore, in their firstMemphis (49-33)5. LA Clippers (47-35)6. LA
round series the #6 seed had the home courtLakers (45-37)7. *Denver (44-38)8. Sacramento
advantage! This is because the NBA gives the(44-38)
team with the better record the home court*Division WinnerAmazing! The best teams
advantage...but not the higher seed. Does thatactually have the highest seeds AND have the
make sense at all? If you are going to rewardhome court advantage, all while still preserving the
division winners with the top three seeds,importance of winning a division. This would
shouldn't you also reward them with home courtprevent Dallas and San Antonio from playing in
advantage? Or you could just reward the teamsthe second round, ensure that Memphis would
with the better record with the home courthave home court advantage and not be stuck
advantage AND the higher seed! This isn't rocketplaying Dallas, and prevent Denver from getting
science Mr. Stern.If all of that wasn't embarrassingthe #3 seed just for winning the division...all while
enough, at the end of the regular season the NBAkeeping the integrity of winning a division by giving
was faced with the worst possible scenario for aDenver the #7 seed over Sacramento for
sporting event - a game where it was better forwinning their division.Please, please do the right
each team to lose. The #5 seeded Memphisthing for next season Mr. Stern and adopt a
Grizzlies were playing the #6 seed Clippers withsystem that is fair for every team. Don't let this
the loser having the inside track to the #6 seeddisaster turn into the new BCS. Do what you
and home court advantage in the first round. Thealways do - fix what's wrong.Adam McFarland
winner would likely get the #5 seed and a dateowns the Network - a network of sports sites
with the Mavericks in the first round. The Clippersincluding collectibles, movies, books, video games,
"lost" the game and went on to get the #6 seed,and more.You can read Adam's blog about being a
home court advantage, and a relatively easy winyoung internet entrepreneur by going to was
over the Nuggets in the first round. The Grizzliesrecently awarded honorable mention in the
"won" the game, the #5 seed, and were promptlyMicrosoft Start Something Amazing Awards.
swept out of the playoffs by the superior