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  • 06/22/2012, 10:52PM ET

No 5

Bloggers Needed (1094-336-89) vs Rudedog: Thankful (407-344-108)
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The NBA should change the format of the NBA finals from its current 2-3-2 format.

They put this in place due to the cross country travel, but now with the much more comfortable travel, as well as there being more teams in the middle of the country, this is outdated.

Getting the middle 3 at home just allows too much of an advantage to the team with the lesser record.


Teams may be used to traveling, but that doesn't make the physical adjustments that much better.

For example, a couple years ago, the Celtics and Lakers squared off, literally on opposite ends of the country. Even at just a 5-hour flight, the time difference makes for a hell of a trip.

What you're proposing (presumably) is a 2-2-1-1-1 format. That means, if the two teams play on Tuesday night in LA for Game 4, they'd be done around 1030 or 11 LA time. At best, they'd be on the plan to Boston by 2 in the morning. A 5-hour flight to Boston gets the team there at 10 in the morning, where they'll have only about 30 hours to adjust and play Game 5.

If they play a Game 6, they have to go back to LA. Again, assuming they get onto the plan by 2, they'll be in LA at 4 AM local time, having to readjust to that time zone.

Essentially, you're asking for far too much physically out of these guys. With players already suffering through all sorts of injuries this late in the season, forcing them to fly across the county 4 times at most is way too much


How long a flight is Portland to New Orleans?
Or Toronto to Miami?

Those series are just fine going the 2-2-1-1-1 series.
How long a flight from OKC to Miami? Longer than the flights to Chicago and Boston?

Let's keep in mind these guys aint flying coach on Delta. NBA teams fly on custom seats on charter aircraft. A four hour wait at the airport waiting on a lane is a thing of the past. Unless there is safety issue, that plane's in the air (or LeBron is waiting on his dinner to be delivered)

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June 23, 2012  09:37 AM ET
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QUOTE(#3):
Originally posted 03:33 AM ET  06.23 by Marlins Fan

Or does the team with home court play game seven at home?Now I'm all confused... I cant remember who had the better record, the Heat or the Thunder. Somebody help me out here, please.

Heat were 46-20
Thunder were 47-19

Thunder technically had the home court advantage because 4 games out of a potential 7 games would have been played in OKC, including game seven. They just didn't make it that far in the series.

And I would agree that giving home court advantage for Game 5 to the team with the weaker record heavily mitigates the overall home court advantage of the team with the stronger record. But I don't necessarily feel that that is a bad thing.

June 24, 2012  02:07 PM ET
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it definitely needs to change. look at this year as a prime example.

thunder have home court advantage.

OKC and MIA split the first pair of games.

Now, it is essentially a best of 5 series. In which, the team with the worse record ends up having home court advantage. Worse yet, they have 3 in a row at home.

I suggest a new format. a 1-1-1-2-2. OKC-MIA-OKC-MIA-MIA-OKC-OKC

this will give an honest home court advantage. splitting the first two games, it will be best of five. but now, the team with the original HCA maintains that advantage.

June 25, 2012  10:42 AM ET
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QUOTE(#5):
Originally posted 02:07 PM ET  06.24 by sanchezstoner

it definitely needs to change. look at this year as a prime example.thunder have home court advantage. OKC and MIA split the first pair of games.Now, it is essentially a best of 5 series. In which, the team with the worse record ends up having home court advantage. Worse yet, they have 3 in a row at home.I suggest a new format. a 1-1-1-2-2. OKC-MIA-OKC-MIA-MIA-OKC-OKCthis will give an honest home court advantage. splitting the first two games, it will be best of five. but now, the team with the original HCA maintains that advantage.

How about 7 games @1. Each?

Or

1-1-2-2-1

June 25, 2012  10:46 AM ET
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How about 7 games @1. Each?

Or

1-1-2-2-1

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June 25, 2012  12:46 PM ET
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QUOTE(#2):
Originally posted 03:31 AM ET  06.23 by Marlins Fan

Pretty much agree. Its idiotic that the team with "home court advantage" could conceivably have to play a game seven on the road. Just stupid.

Game 7 is still at home whether it's 2-3-2 or 2-2-1-1-1.

The critique with 2-3-2 formats has more to do with the fact that the "away" team (inferior record) gets their 3 games in a row at home. So if the "away" can get a split in the first 2 games of the series, they have the opportunity to take the momemtum and close it out at home without the "home" team (superior record) getting a chance to play at home on a friendly court again.

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June 25, 2012  12:57 PM ET
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not a fan of breaking up 2-2-1-1-1. steal a game at the opponents home, and you just bought yourself your own HCA...rather have that then open it up for the HCA to remain right until game 4 is done.

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June 25, 2012  11:39 PM ET
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QUOTE(#12):
Originally posted 12:57 PM ET  06.25 by Skuli65

not a fan of breaking up 2-2-1-1-1. steal a game at the opponents home, and you just bought yourself your own HCA...rather have that then open it up for the HCA to remain right until game 4 is done.

this

June 25, 2012  11:44 PM ET
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1-1-1-1-1-1-1

June 26, 2012  12:11 AM ET
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The NBA playoffs are over so quickly as they are. They should find some way to drag them out a bit.

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June 28, 2012  10:51 AM ET
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QUOTE(#13):
Originally posted 03:42 PM ET  06.25 by BM.

For being some sort of "legendary TDer who doesn't need anybody else's help", Dave sure posts some short-ass arguments.

Yup.

 
July 11, 2012  10:53 PM ET
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And then?

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