http://espn.go.com/nba/news/2003/0208/1506023.html ... starting this year. If the Rockets make the playoffs, do you think this helps or hurts them... esp. given the fact that in a seven game series, the better team ALWAYS wins. In a 5-game series, it is possible for a lesser team to shock the world.
Just what we need, the finals moved back ANOTHER week. I actually preferred back when the first round was best of three. For the Rockets this season, it is a positive inasmuch as they will get a little more playoff experience. If they lose in the first round, I expect them to be able to take it to at least six games...
This will be good for the Rockets...more playoff experience We have to make the playoffs first though...
Sounds like a conspiracy theory to give the Lakers more games to beat the Kings or Mavs. Then again, I've been watching too many reruns of X-Files as of late.
Nothing more then a ploy to suck out more money from the fans and also more tv revenue. I think it sucks whether Rockets make the playoffs or not. You will barely ever see upsets like Denver over Seattle or anything of that nature.
The NBA schedule needs to be cut short. The All Star break needs to be 10 days, with games being played on only 2 of those days. There also needs to be shoter playoff series'. 7 games int he first round? Come on. This is especially bad for teams like the MAVS who were going to rely HEAVILY on zone defenses.
This is a great move by the NBA. For those who say there will never be upsets again because of this format, all you need to do is look at the NHL. They do best of 7 series from the first round onwards, and if you think there has never been an upset in the first round then you're completely wrong. There's upsets every year. Just last year Montreal the 8th seed in the East defeated Boston the 1st seed in the East in the first round.
What's affected by it? I doubt too many teams are changing their strategies or training because of it.
What's the rationale for making a mid-season change? Normally these type of things occur during the offseason where people could examine the pros and cons. The problem I have is the precedence it sets allowing rule changes based on whatever is happening during the regular season.
More basketball. More expereince for the rockets if they make it. I'm all for it. I dont think we will be seeing to many upsets anymore though
I think the Lakers gain most out of this. the Mavericks take a HUGE hit with this one, while the Pacers gain a huge advantage. The Rockets lose out too. This is a major factor since a lot of teams play zones now. In a 7 game series, zones are efefctive for a MAXIMUM of 2 games.
It wasn't a "rule change" which, of course, would have been ridiculous midway through the season. So as far as setting a precedent for intra-season rules changes, I don't think it affects anything. They change times of games throughout the season. They change if games will be on national tv or not which directly affects when they're played sometimes. I still don't see how this affects anything other than they play more games in the playoffs.
Here are some ideas which I briefly brainstormed. 1) The Playoffs consist of the top 16 teams, regardless of conference. They are seperated into 2 divisions, 1 vs 16 etc...hopefully the top 2 teams meet in the finals. But travel is an issue here. 2) Cut short the season by 10 games or so, and then put in a 7game series, if it is really necessary anyway. ASW should have a longer break, as Sane said earlier. 3) Remove the first round completely (therefore making competition in the conferences tighter), or have a 'best loser' rule. That is, the highest seed to lose in the first round gets to play another round. However, this could be complicated and weird. 4) Similar to idea 1, but in the current playoff draw, the top 2 teams from every conference have to be the winners of their division. I.E. If Dallas ends up with 65 wins, Spurs with 60, and Kings with 55, the seeds are Dallas, Kings, Spurs. The seeding should be based on results only. Feel free to flame....I haven't had much time to think properly about them yet. Or even add some ideas, if you wish.
