So assuming that the Sonics do move to OKC... they aren't exactly in the northwest anymore. Does that mean we realign the divisions? If so how do they do it? Maybe a dumb question but it seems like a logical one to me. What do yall think?
If you move Memphis to the East, you'll need to move as East team to the Western Conference, which I doubt any of them would go for. I think the NBA will see what happens with New Orleans. Judging by the opening night attendance of about 15K at New Orleans arena, it looks like not many people really cares about hoops there.
If you moved Memphis east, someone (most likely Milwaukee) would have to go west. Memphis is actually further west than any of the east teams. The Northwest division already covers a lot of territory, more than any other. It'd boil down to whether you want to stretch from Portland to OKC, or Portland to Milwaukee, or Portland to San Antonio. Given the options, you may as well leave OKC in the Northwest.
I think we should make it like the NFL with the ABC and NBC with 3 divisions each. I know there is an issue with cost of travel but look at MLB they do it and play more games. ABC Spurs Jazz Trailblazers Lakers Kings Hornets Grizzles Sonics Pistons Celtics Knicks Pacers Heat Hawks Bobcats NBC Rockets Mavericks Warriors Clippers Suns Nuggets Timberwolves Bulls Cavaliers Raptors Sixers Nets Wizards Magic Bucks any thoughts about this because I think this will get basketball more evenly leveled in competition since now WEST dominates EAST
This is what AGGIE from realgm posted East: Atlantic Boston New York New Jersey Philly Washington Central Toronto Detroit Cleveland Indiana Chicago Southeast Charlotte Miami Orlando Atlanta Memphis West: Northwest Portland Utah Denver Minnesota Milwaukee Pacific Sacramento Golden State LAL LAC Phoenix Southwest Houston San Antonio Dallas New Orleans Oklahoma City
Screw OKC - they voluntarily moved out of Seattle, so long plane rides are part of the deal. There is no reason why Milwaukee or Minnesota - two small market teams, should have to start flying to Portand to play their "rivals"
F-it. 4 divisions, no conferences. Bracket style playoffs. Northeast: BOS, NYK, BRK (Nets), PHI, TOR, IND, DET, MIL Southeast: CHA, ATL, ORL, MIA, NO, MEM, WAS Central: SAS, HOU, DAL, OKC, MIN, CHI, IND West: LAL, LAC, GSW, SAC (soon to be the LVK), POR, PHO, UTA, DEN Top 5 teams from each division advance to playoffs. Division winners earn round 1 and 2 bye Brackets arranged by division, then by total wins from each division's playoff teams (to rank the 4 divisions, with division winner wins used as tiebreakers) Round 1: single game elimination Round 2: single game elimination Round 3 (Divison Championships): best of 7 Round 4 (Semifinals): best of 7 Round 5 (Finals): best of 7 That would be fun. Two lightning rounds for craziness, winning your division has serious implications, divisional rivalries become serious business, increased odds the the best two teams in the league meet in the finals, not in a conference championship. Would never happen, but I'd love to see it. Evan
They should keep everything the way it already is. It's not like Oklahoma is that far from the other northwest teams relative to their distances from one another. I mean, Denver, Portland, Minnesota, and Utah aren't exactly all in close proximity. For all of the teams except one, OKC is probably actually closer than Seattle.
