What if the NBA had single elimination playoffs?

[Nate99]

What if the NBA used a best of one tournament to decide it's champion...instead of a best of seven series?

I guess it wouldn't make as much money in ticket sales...but it could in theory make more in television money.

Whether it would be a good business decision or not...I'd love to see them try that....just for the heck of it.

 

[DukeU]

Wouldn't last very long.

How many teams would be in tournament?

 

[Crepitus]

What if the NBA had single elimination playoffs?​

They would make less money.

 

[candycorn]

I don't understand the 2-3-2 format of the finals. Why is it in the conference championships they play 2-2-1-1-1 but in the finals its 2-3-2?

 

[Mr. Friscus]

What if the NBA used a best of one tournament to decide it's champion...instead of a best of seven series?

I guess it wouldn't make as much money in ticket sales...but it could in theory make more in television money.

Whether it would be a good business decision or not...I'd love to see them try that....just for the heck of it.

All sports but football need less games, but that cat is already out of the bag and there’s too much money to drown out what’s best for the sport/league.

I’d be on board with 3 game series in the early rounds and going to 5. I don’t know, that’s a good question

 

[Mr. Friscus]

I don't understand the 2-3-2 format of the finals. Why is it in the conference championships they play 2-2-1-1-1 but in the finals its 2-3-2?

Because they did it, and just haven’t had enough flack to change it back to what it used to be.

It’s a dumb format.

 

[22lcidw]

I don't understand the 2-3-2 format of the finals. Why is it in the conference championships they play 2-2-1-1-1 but in the finals its 2-3-2?

The conference championships theoretically the teams may be closer to each other. East versus West in the Finals. So, traveling may be affected and longer.

 

[Nate99]

All sports but football need less games

I for one am glad the Super Bowl is not a series

 

[Rodimus]

What if the NBA used a best of one tournament to decide it's champion...instead of a best of seven series?

I guess it wouldn't make as much money in ticket sales...but it could in theory make more in television money.

Whether it would be a good business decision or not...I'd love to see them try that....just for the heck of it.

i do not like the best of seven series championships and playoffs. i prefer just one game like the Super Bowl.

 

[Rodimus]

I for one am glad the Super Bowl is not a series

especially as a Bills fan. losing the Super Bowl over and over again in a best of 7 would not be very pleasant for us Bills fans.

 

[sealybobo]

What if the NBA used a best of one tournament to decide it's champion...instead of a best of seven series?

I guess it wouldn't make as much money in ticket sales...but it could in theory make more in television money.

Whether it would be a good business decision or not...I'd love to see them try that....just for the heck of it.

No to one but I just learned the first round is back to 7 games. I think everyone was fine with best out of 5 in the first round.

I’d even entertain best of three but not one and done.

 

[Couchpotato]

What if the NBA used a best of one tournament to decide it's champion...instead of a best of seven series?

I guess it wouldn't make as much money in ticket sales...but it could in theory make more in television money.

Whether it would be a good business decision or not...I'd love to see them try that....just for the heck of it.

Dont they have that with the mid season tournament or whatever they call it?

 

[Couchpotato]

Because they did it, and just haven’t had enough flack to change it back to what it used to be.

It’s a dumb format.

It's been that way since 85 so it's been that way long than it hasn't. And they did it to cut down on cross country travel. Maybe with private jets it's less of a deal now than then. The question is why is 2-2-1-1-1 a better format than 2-3-2? What if all the series were 2-3-2? Would that be ok? If all the series has always been 2-3-2 would you be advocating for 2-2-1-1-1 as the superior format?

 

[Couchpotato]

The more games you play the greater chance that the better team wins the series.

 

[No Way]

Unlike college, there are not enough teams.

There are 30 teams in the league. Just add two more. Have two conferences with four divisions each. Division winners make the playoffs. That's 8 teams. First series is best 3 outa 5. Next two series are best 4 outa 7.

 

[sealybobo]

Unlike college, there are not enough teams.

There are 30 teams in the league. Just add two more. Have two conferences with four divisions each. Division winners make the playoffs. That's 8 teams. First series is best 3 outa 5. Next two series are best 4 outa 7.

I'm just spit balling. Trying to be creative.

Let's say 8 teams make the playoffs in the east. 15 teams in the east. So the bottom teams play a one and done tournament for the 8th spot?

Finishing in 8th doesn't get you the 8th spot. You have to win the tournament to get the 8th seed.

15 play 8 (assuming 8 wins)
14 play 9 (9 wins)
13 plays 10 (10 wins)
12 plays 11 (11 wins)

8 plays 11
9 plays 10

Assuming 8 & 9 win, they play to see who gets the 8th spot

So you have to win 3 games to win the 8th spot. But even the worst team with the worst record could win this tournament and potentially an NBA championship.

 

[No Way]

I'm just spit balling. Trying to be creative.

Let's say 8 teams make the playoffs in the east. 15 teams in the east. So the bottom teams play a one and done tournament for the 8th spot?

Finishing in 8th doesn't get you the 8th spot. You have to win the tournament to get the 8th seed.

15 play 8 (assuming 8 wins)
14 play 9 (9 wins)
13 plays 10 (10 wins)
12 plays 11 (11 wins)

8 plays 11
9 plays 10

Assuming 8 & 9 win, they play to see who gets the 8th spot

So you have to win 3 games to win the 8th spot. But even the worst team with the worst record could win this tournament and potentially an NBA championship.

It's gotten ridiculous. I think that seeds 1-3 compose ~98% of NBA titles.

 

[Blaster]

What if the NBA used a best of one tournament to decide it's champion...instead of a best of seven series?

I guess it wouldn't make as much money in ticket sales...but it could in theory make more in television money.

Whether it would be a good business decision or not...I'd love to see them try that....just for the heck of it.

Not a fan of the NBA.

 

[sealybobo]

It's gotten ridiculous. I think that seeds 1-3 compose ~98% of NBA titles.

But then 2 years ago Jimmy Butler and the Heat went from Play In's to the NBA finals.

 

[No Way]

But then 2 years ago Jimmy Butler and the Heat went from Play In's to the NBA finals.

Meh. Outliers. You'll always have that.