what happened to the competitive first round series

Top teams got better.

 

Well if you are really watching the series every game has been competitive outside the Memphis blazers and maybe the spurs clippers.

It's just that the better teams are closing the games

 

the first round has always been boring. The exceptions were last year and maybe a couple of series( CHI-BOS 2009, LA-OKC 10, etc).

 

the first rounds are always boring, especially in the east, when having a +50 wins team against one under 40 wins.

you only have one series in the 1st round that is exciting, once in a while you get 2, but thats it.

thats why they should do like they did before -3 out of 5-

the real playoffs start in 2nd round.

 

Im just wondering, what is the schedule going to look like if like 5-7 teams sweep?? That would mean everybody a week off and no basketball or will all the game 6/7 already be game 1 & 2 of the next round? Haha

 

They'd start the next round as soon as the matchups were available. In the past, they've had game 1's of the 2nd round being played the same day as a Game 7 from the first. They would just spread those games out to allow the other series to catch up.

I'm not sure there will be that many sweeps after watching the games. In the East:
- None of the East games have been blowouts even though the series are lopsided so far. Wouldn't be surprised to see the Nets, Celtics, and Bucks manage to pull out 1 game at home. As far as the Raptors, I just don't think the Wizards can stay focused for 4 straight and could see Toronto winning 2 straight before losing in Game 6.
- In the West, New Orleans had their chance in Game 3 so it'll be interesting to see how they respond; very easily could be swept, but Golden State hasn't exactly won big in any of the three games yet. Mavs aren't a young team and I doubt they go out easily on their home floor; could very well see another close gane against the Rockets. The Clips looked bad in Game 3, but they'll come back strong in Game 4 and then have a home game in 5. That series is probably going 6 at least. And Portland is going home now where they are much better; theyll win at least 1 of the next 2.

 

matchups imo

at least in the west I think thats a big reason

 

I don't know, I think it just happened. It looked better going in. Raptors have been disappointing, even though I didn't see them as a a very good team, I thought that series would be interesting. Mavs blew up due to chemistry. Carlisle isn't the best coach to handle volatile personalities, he's shown that in Indiana and now this year. Give him a smart team with strong leadership who will follow his Xs and Os, then he'll do miracles.

I also think OKC/Pacers missing playoffs on the last day ended up making those 1-8 matchups a little bit less interesting. Well, to me definitely since I'm a Pacers fan, but I think to a general viewer too. It was looking like we'd see Cavs-Pacers at one point near the end of the season, that would've been cool, simply due to rivalries.

 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>As expected, Elias Sports Bureau confirms this is first time under playoff format intro'd in '83-84 that five teams have 3-0 lead in Round 1</p>&mdash; Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNSteinLine/status/591960483248283649">April 25, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

The didn't go to 7 game first rrounds until 2003. Stein is an idiot.

 

If he's going back before 2003, maybe he's counting sweeps from the best of five era.

Or, as you said, he's just an idiot.

 

-David Stern
+Adam Silver

That's what happened.

 

This is only the first round what did you expect? Not every time an 8th seed beats out at the 1st seed.

Also almost every game has been close, there hasn't been a lot of blowouts most go down to the wire. For example just because Houston has beaten the Mavs 3 times doesn't mean the games weren't close.

 

So what Happens when a team wins the first 3 games in the first round before 2003? Is that not 3-0?

Idiot?

 

This I agree with. When Stern was commish it always seemed his bottom line was making money so he would dispatch his team to make sure some series were extended. Or he would make sure the teams that made the league money would advance. It seems with Silver he has a hands off approach and letting the teams play. We got weird teams in the playoffs, strange matchups and a bunch of 3-0 series.

 

More of a matchup thing.

So far only Spurs and Clippers are the most interesting at this point.

 

And everyone complained they got matched up together. Honestly the biggest reason these 1st Rd series have been lame is Durant and Mathews injuries. Dallas, Pellies and Blazers were fodder for the other teams.

 

I think with the rise in ticket prices + the rules changes that forbid rabid defense, the home court advantage is not what it used to be.

Replace a bunch of real world blue collar drunk guys in the old Boston Garden, for instance, with people who can pay hundreds of dollars per ticket, plus another whatever for parking, plus another $10 per beer, and yeah, they will stand up and yell occasionally, but the opposing team does not fear for their very lives.