So when is the conference system going to be abolished?

I agree with you. However, unless Texas gains independence and annexes Florida there's no realistic chance to make this happen.

 

Most of the west is more playoff worthy than the entire east apart from indy and miami...

Dead horse beating, COMMENCE!

 

Why is the NBA the only sport where people whine about this? Is it not enough that more than half the teams in the league make the playoffs?

 

I would agree with you that it is unjust no matter how you slice it if we lose in the first round in a hard fought matchup and all Indiana and Miami have to do is coast to the ECF. But you know what? The name of the game is winning a championship. If we get bounced of the first round, then I don't think we deserve to win a championship that year. So at the end of the day, it sucks, it's unfair, whatever you want to call it, but I don't see the difference between losing in the first round and losing in the second because in the grand scheme of things it is still losing.

 

They could really change things by creating American and National conferences across the country like football and baseball instead of splitting things along the Mississippi river. It could screw up some good rivalries but could really even out the parity between the conferences.

 

It ain't gonna happen.

 

Might have something to do with the #9 seed in the West (aka out of the playoffs) being better record wise than the #3 seed in the East (aka home court advantage in the first round).

 

I could deal with that.

 

See: NHL conference realignment 2013.

They added a wild-card system to the playoff race, and realigned into 4 divisions instead of 6, whereas it used to be structured almost identically to the NBA season & playoffs.

This doesn't resolve the NBA's issue of the East being horrible, at all. But it shows that other sports are discussing of the benefits of change.

 

I'd prefer cross-conference matchups. 1 v 16, 2 v 15, etc.

 

Damn that would be a badass idea.

 

i know this isn't too good of a reason but think of the travel time say if portland had to go to atlanta in a seven game series i know they're used to it and all as it is apart of the nba but that could play a part but i'd like to see west vs east matchups

 

Didn't realize the NHL was still around. What about sports that matter in this country, like the NFL and MLB? Have they discussed this?

 

Back in the day, maybe...but with the advent of express jets and comfortable travel for athletes...this is a terrible reason.

I would be ok with a 1 vs 16... but personally...would rather see this... Top 12 teams make the playoffs. All other teams play a lottery style single elimination game(remaining 16 teams) to determine the winner of the top picks in the draft. This would effectively end the tanking system in the NBA and all games would be competitive. The teams with the highest margin of victory would get the #1 pick, and so on and so forth...If there is a tie for margin of victories, teams with better season records, get the higher pick.

PLAYOFFS:
1-4 get byes...

Round 1:
5 vs 12
6 vs 11
7 vs 10
8 vs 9

Round 2:
1 vs lowest remaining seed
2 vs
3 vs
4 vs

Round 3:
Highest seed vs Lowest seed
two middle seeds

Round 4:
Championship

There would be an incentive for the teams to play for the top 4 spots...and people would actually want to watch the elimination games in hopes to secure picks...

 

lol after the wizards game some wizfan was bragging that the wiz would end up with a better seed than the rockets.. it isnt out of the realm of possibility but i had to enforce the idea in him that seeds 2-8 were pretty much filler and the equivalnt of a participation ribbon.. thanks for participating.. cant believe he had the nerve to brag about seeding when his team would likley have 10-15 less wins..

 

If you were a owner or GM in the East, why would you want to give up a free pass to the playoffs?

 

If we're good enough, standings & matchups won't matter.
We gonna have to beat these not so good matchups to get a ring.

 

It does suck that the balance of the league is so one sided but I think this is something we just have to stick with. I dont think they will change the East and West conference for just open play.

 

Can we just have a relegation system where Orlando, Philly, Milwaukee, and other blatant tankers get phased out of playoff contention entirely? Like a penalty box. Show us you actually give a damn before we let you become eligible for the playoffs and actually COUNT you as a team in a conference.

Without those teams, you could redistribute East and West for the remainder and come up with pretty fair conference. Obviously Rockets would be back in the East.