Originally posted by GugsPsst...the Eastern Conference, besides the Pistons and Heat, SUCKS.
Fixed.
The Nets are going to win around 50 and probably be a dangerous second round opponent for the Heat, so they should be considered above the rest of the flotsam and jetsam that is the Eastern Conference (LeBron and the LeBron'ettes will be judged by the McGrady Rule: Win a playoff series before getting any respect). Pistons get what amounts to a double-bye before playing the survivor of the Heat/Nets series, so all they really need now is for the Spurs to either get picked off out West or play 2 very tough series, and the Pistons will have a cake-walk to the title. If the Spurs come out of the West with ease, it will be a pick 'em 7 game series in the Finals.
That "Baker 15 1-3..." is VIN EFFING BAKER. Does David Stern think it MIGHT have been possible the Clips were tanking to improve their playoff situation?
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The current playoff structure isn't that bad but it does need to be altered b/c you can clearly see teams trying to fall into the #6 seed.
If it were me, I'd do two things: (1) winning your division only guarantees you a spot in the playoffs but NOT a top three seed; and (2) if you have a losing record, you don't get in unless you win your division.
Maybe (2) is a bit much seeing as how there's only 4 teams in the East with winning records - but if you put (1) in effect you get this playoff picture in the West (as of now) since the East wouldn't change anyway:
(1) Spurs v. (8) Kings (4) Grizzlies v. (5) Clippers (3) Suns v. (6) Nuggets (2) Mavs v. (7) Lakers
Those matchups look much better, IMO.
kedzie.net "Larry Brown is a great coach, but them players... they ain't gettin' it. Mark Jackson used to say the operation was a success but the patient died. The Knicks are DEAD. D-E-E-A-A-D dead." ~ Charles Barkley "Sports are about one thing: players making plays. When you're giving bad players [huge] contracts, you don't know what the hell you're doing."~ Charles Barkley "[Larry Brown being hired to coach the Knicks] is like putting $5,000 rims on a Pontiac Bonneville." ~ Charles Barkley
Originally posted by JayJayDeanDoes David Stern think it MIGHT have been possible the Clips were tanking to improve their playoff situation?
Just be glad they were nice enough to hand you guys a W.
Besides, arent the Clipper already locked into #6 to face the #3 Nuggets? And even if they did manage to slip down to #7, they'd end up facing the Suns instead, and I cant imagine they prefer to face the Suns over the Nuggets.
SIDE NOTE: Portland is 21-59? What the hell happened there?!?!
Originally posted by KawshenThe current playoff structure isn't that bad but it does need to be altered b/c you can clearly see teams trying to fall into the #6 seed.
If it were me, I'd do two things: (1) winning your division only guarantees you a spot in the playoffs but NOT a top three seed; and (2) if you have a losing record, you don't get in unless you win your division.
Maybe (2) is a bit much seeing as how there's only 4 teams in the East with winning records - but if you put (1) in effect you get this playoff picture in the West (as of now) since the East wouldn't change anyway:
(1) Spurs v. (8) Kings (4) Grizzlies v. (5) Clippers (3) Suns v. (6) Nuggets (2) Mavs v. (7) Lakers
Those matchups look much better, IMO.
How about the top 16 teams get in period and seeded as such period? Never happen but would be interesting.
Originally posted by JayJayDeanDoes David Stern think it MIGHT have been possible the Clips were tanking to improve their playoff situation?
Just be glad they were nice enough to hand you guys a W.
Besides, arent the Clipper already locked into #6 to face the #3 Nuggets? And even if they did manage to slip down to #7, they'd end up facing the Suns instead, and I cant imagine they prefer to face the Suns over the Nuggets.
SIDE NOTE: Portland is 21-59? What the hell happened there?!?!
FINAL THOUGHT: Darius Miles is a jackass.
(GO LAKERS!)
The tankjob by the Clippers (the Clippers tanking games to influence playoff seedings is the 5th sign of the apocolypse) isn't for going from 6 to 7, it is to stay at 6 or 7 and avoid getting stuck as 5 where you get the Mavericks in Round 1, and the reward for winning that series in all probability is the Spurs in Round 2. Being in a 4-sum with the Lakers, Suns and Nuggets is much more preferable than being with the Mavericks, Spurs, Kings. As for the put all 16 playoff teams together: Travel costs. A situation could arise where a west coast team has to play four 7 Game series against east coast teams, or vice versa. They went 2-3-2 to minimize travel in the Finals, I doubt they really want to get in a situation where the Sonics have to play Miami, Atlanta, Philly, Boston in consecutive rounds (teams chosen because those are damn long trips for Seattle).
I have to assume you've gotten it wrong, since I've already read one story that says the Wizards can finish "no worse than seventh" but you don't even have that in your list.
Here's the official tiebreaker basis (nba.com). If three teams are involved, I don't think they do it the way you do it.
Fortunately it's a bit easier in the West, where it's up to the Lakers to decide if they want to win and face the Suns at #7, or lose and face the Spurs at #8, ceding #7 to the Kings. (The Hornets will attempt to influence the outcome of the game as well, I'm sure. ;-) )
1 through 6 are set with Memphis taking #5 and the Clippers at #6 and San Antonio clinching the Southwest AND the West, settling Dallas in at #4.
If applicable, division champions must be determined first.
Does that only affect the champion of the division overall, or the champion of the division from the teams included (as the NFL does)? If the Wiz can be 7th, it's the former. Either it's not clear or I'm reading way too much into it.
There's only one situation where the Wizards are in a three way tie; they lose, Bulls win, Pacers win. Reading it the other way, the Bulls and Wizards swap spots in that situation. I think?
Edit:: ESPN.com posted the breakdown. They don't have the Wizards 7th in any situation, so it's safe to say there's a bit of confusion.
All I know is that Miami owns the Wizards and has some matchup issues with Chicago, up to and including the fact that Wade somehow isn't his normal Wade-like self versus the Bulls. So I know who I'd rather have in that #7 slot.
The worst case scenario would be Indiana, because in spite of everything that's gone on there the last two years, the Pacers have absolutely had Miami's number.
Congrats to Denver, they've added a division title to their franchise but will not have home court advantage anywhere in the West playoffs (lost season series 3-1 to Kings) and the Finals unless several upsets happen in the East. Kawshen's first idea earlier in the thread is looking better and better.
Originally posted by JALmanKawshen's first idea earlier in the thread is looking better and better.
I think they should just reseed the top four teams by record and give them all home court advantage in the first round, which I think is a reasonable reward for winning a division. If you're not going to give the division winners ANYTHING why even have divisions in the first place? (Not that I'd object to get rid of the divisions altogether, myself.)
Would anyone REALLY be any more or less excited for the playoffs if these were the matchups? (Besides Clipper fans, who are just happy to have playoff games anyway.)
EAST (1) DET- (8) MIL (2) MIA - (7) CHI (3) CLE - (6) IND (4) NJ - (5) WAS
WEST (1) SA - (8) SAC (2) DAL - (7) LAL (3) PHX - (6) LAC (4) DEN - (5) MEM (Denver with home court advantage.)
"You know what you need? Some new quotes in your sig. Yeah, I said it." -- DJFrostyFreeze
Maybe Nash sees some hope that by staying, some other bigger talent would want to come. At the same time though, I am kind-of surprised because Nash is still good guard in the NBA which now-a-days is filled with talented guards.