There has been plenty of talk about the NBA going to a non-conference affiliated playoff seeding system where teams 1-16 would be seeded by record and not by conference.
While that seems unlikely to become a reality in the near future because of the extra travel and necessity that is created to further balance the regular season schedule to accommodate teams, a new change has been proposed that could actually come to fruition.
Reseeding playoff teams in the conference finals.
Here is what Silver told ESPN on Friday:
“The other thing you could potentially do is reseed at the conference finals. And that deals with if your two best teams are in the same conference. So, there are some other approaches to deal with. You want the two best teams to meet in the Finals.”
This is a very intriguing idea and far more likely to receive the necessary 20 votes from owners to pass.
For fun, here are some of the match-ups we would more than likely have gotten to enjoy as NBA Finals match-ups in the past with this new proposed change:
2003- Spurs vs Mavericks
2002- Lakers vs. Kings
2000- Lakers-Blazers
1991- Bulls-Pistons
This year would be another great example as most would agree that the Warriors and Rockets are the two best teams in the NBA and would make for a great NBA Finals match-up.
How much more drama would have been involved with a Bulls-Pistons NBA Finals match-up with Jordan trying to get past the Pistons and win his first NBA title. Or if that classic and controversial (the NBA wanted the Lakers to win) Lakers-Kings series was for the NBA championship?
This is a really intriguing idea and if there is real momentum to be on the docket for league changes this off-season, it could really affect some major free agency decisions… (ahem LeBron James ahem).
I am in favor of this and I have a sneaking suspicion it could become a reality in the next five years.
