Monroe: Compe ion committee should consider changing playoff seeds

[Extra Stout]

I submitted the very idea Monroe suggests to the league over a year ago, with the very explanations he gives for why the current system is a problem. It's good to see that they're catching on.

[GINNNNNNNNNNNNOBILI]

Guess what? The individual seeds for the NCAA tournament are decided by a bunch of guys in a back room filled with cigar smoke. If that happened in the NBA, I feel confident that SA and Dallas would be placed in opposite brackets.

The two situations are NOT comparable.

I'm not disagreeing with that, I think the divisions are stupid, i'd rather just have Western Conf. and Eastern Conf. and just records decide standings. I just disagree with re-seeding after the first round

[ShoogarBear]

Guess what? The individual seeds for the NCAA tournament are decided by a bunch of guys in a back room filled with cigar smoke. If that happened in the NBA, I feel confident that SA and Dallas would be placed in opposite brackets.

I don't.

If the NBA had their way, here would be the seeds:

FIRST ROUND
West
San Antonio vs. Dallas
Phoenix vs. Clippers
Denver vs. NO/OK
Lakers vs. Hawks

East
Detroit vs. Washington
New Jersey vs. Knicks
Miami vs. Prairie View A&M
Cavs vs. Hawks Bench

SECOND ROUND
Dallas vs. Phoenix
Lakers vs. Hawks Bench

Detroit vs. Cavs
Miami vs. Hawks

CONFERENCE FINALS
Phoenix vs. Lakers (if Amare is back)
Miami vs. Hawks Bench

FINALS
Miami vs. Lakers

[FromWayDowntown]

I'm not disagreeing with that, I think the divisions are stupid, i'd rather just have Western Conf. and Eastern Conf. and just records decide standings. I just disagree with re-seeding after the first round

But I think that's the point. If the records decided the seedings in the first place, there is no need for re-seeding, since the teams with the best records would necessarily be on opposite sides of the bracket.

The league doesn't seed teams that way right now, and if it continues to insist that divisions exist and that division winners get particular seeds, then you end up with the very real possibility that the teams with the best records will, essentially, be punished for having those records by having to face each other early in the playoffs.

Explain to me why it is preferrable to have a system in place that doesn't have the teams that have shown themselves to be best during the regular season meet as late as possible in the playoffs?

[GINNNNNNNNNNNNOBILI]

But I think that's the point. If the records decided the seedings in the first place, there is no need for re-seeding, since the teams with the best records would necessarily be on opposite sides of the bracket.

The league doesn't seed teams that way right now, and if it continues to insist that divisions exist and that division winners get particular seeds, then you end up with the very real possibility that the teams with the best records will, essentially, be punished for having those records by having to face each other early in the playoffs.

Explain to me why it is preferrable to have a system in place that doesn't have the teams that have shown themselves to be best during the regular season meet as late as possible in the playoffs?

I agree with that, but I'm saying I would rather the league change the format to seed based on record alone, where a division le means nothing.

[travis2]

I agree with that, but I'm saying I would rather the league change the format to seed based on record alone, where a division le means nothing.

Well why didn't you say that in the first place? I don't agree with this being the optimum solution, but I would certainly take it over what is in place now...

[greywheel]

Steve Kerr's Take

I would take things one step farther and simply seed all eight playoff teams by record. The winners of each division would be guaranteed a postseason berth, but nothing more. If the Nuggets had the seventh-best record in the conference, they would make the playoffs and be the seventh seed. That way every team would be rewarded for their performance, and not for competing in a bad division. Conversely, teams like Dallas wouldn't be penalized for being in the same division as San Antonio.

The argument against my idea is that, by seeding according to record, the league would take away the reward for winning a division le. I understand that, but in my estimation, that would be a much smaller injustice than the one that will be committed under the current rules.

[SAtown]

The NBA should go back to the old 4 divisions in the league. Also, they should go back to best-of-5 in the First round, instead of 7. First rounds should always be the least painful to watch.

[ShoogarBear]

Steve Kerr's Take

Kerr is incorrect in that you still get rewarded for winning a division le because you get in the playoffs even if your record is not in the top 8.

[Mixability]

let the best 16 teams make the playoffs, regardless of conference, not that'd be special! Horrible teams from the east wouldn't make the playoffs just cause there's a spot.

[Mixability]

I don't.

If the NBA had their way, here would be the seeds:

FIRST ROUND
West
San Antonio vs. Dallas
Phoenix vs. Clippers
Denver vs. NO/OK
Lakers vs. Hawks

East
Detroit vs. Washington
New Jersey vs. Knicks
Miami vs. Prairie View A&M
Cavs vs. Hawks Bench

SECOND ROUND
Dallas vs. Phoenix
Lakers vs. Hawks Bench

Detroit vs. Cavs
Miami vs. Hawks

CONFERENCE FINALS
Phoenix vs. Lakers (if Amare is back)
Miami vs. Hawks Bench

FINALS
Miami vs. Lakers

sad but true

[Joepa]

I think this is going to be a lot like the BCS in college football - We aren't going to see a change for a few years, if at all.