Restructure of NBA Playoffs

Restructure of NBA Playoffs

Will Bierwirth, Contributing Writer

With mediocre teams like the Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, and Brooklyn Nets, each under .500, vying for the eighth spot in the NBA playoffs in the Eastern Conference, you know something has to change with the playoff format. Meanwhile, elite franchises including the defending champs, San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder, and the Phoenix Suns, all having winning records, are just trying to stay in the playoffs in the “Wild Wild West”, it goes to show that the NBA is not nearly as balanced as it has been in the past. The current playoffs format would feature sub .500 teams in the Eastern Conference and above .500 teams missing the action in the Western Conference. Thus, many, including Commissioner Adam Silver, are leaning towards a playoff format revamp. The change would make it so the top 16 teams get into the playoffs regardless of which conference the team plays in. In many people’s views, a league’s playoffs should feature the best set of teams, going up against each other in seven game series, loser goes home. Obviously, the Association would have to look at travel expenses if it comes to the Hawks from Atlanta playing the Phoenix Suns. However, the payoff in terms of views per game and how much money people would spend to see some of the best teams play could easily cancel out the expenses. In my opinion, the restructure of the NBA playoffs would be great for the players, getting to play against the whole league in the playoffs. Also, the Atlanta Hawks (45-12) wouldn’t play the Brooklyn Nets (23-32) in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs in what would surely be a blowout. Adam Silver has expressed interest, however the question remains, will this necessary change happen in the near future?