I'm a fan of both MLB, and the NBA, and, while I realize that the 2008 baseball season has started with the opening two game season series in Tokyo, the season on American soil begins tonight, with the opening game between my beloved Atlanta Braves, and the Washington Nationals.
As I was reflecting on the opening of baseball season, another issue came to mind. Between the remainder of the regular season, three seven game conference playoff series, and the NBA Finals, there is still nearly three months left in the NBA season. It seems this is far too long.
Does it seem odd that baseball season ends every year in October, and then a week later, basketball season begins? There is little, if any, overlap in the two. In the NBA, teams are still playing in the Finals, in late June, as baseball teams are making All Star rosters. The basketball season lasts nearly eight months, and more than eight months, if you count the month of preseason games. It would seem to me this could be remedied. I'd appreciate feedback on one of two plans.
1. Shorten the conference playoffs by one round. Have the conference playoffs be only the three divisional winners in each conference, plus the team with the next best record, the "Wild Card", like they do in baseball. Say, if Boston finishes the season with the best record, at say, 65-17, and are Atlantic Division champs, have them play the wild card team, for instance, the Washington Wizards, who would have the second best record after all the division winners, while the other two division winners in the Southeast and Central play each other. Then, the winner of those two series plays each other for the right to go to the Finals. This would cut two weeks off the season, at least, with all the travel days.
2. Or, if you really wanted to be radical, one could have only the three division winners make the playoffs, with the team with the best record having first round bye, as the other two teams play for the right to face the best record in the conference finals. You could also shorten both the round between the second and third place teams, and the conference finals, to five games, instead of seven, and then have the usual seven game NBA Finals. This would not only cut out one whole round, but would also shorten all the pre Finals rounds, keeping the teams fresher, the season shorter, and fans more interested. When the Knicks won the NBA Finals in seven games in 1970, their last game was May 8. Now, when teams go to Game Seven of an NBA Finals, it can last until between the 20th and 25th of June. An eight month plus NBA season seems too long. Additionally, it also allows only teams that deserve to make the playoffs to be in it. This year, the Eastern Conference is so watered down, that you will likely have a team with maybe 35 or so wins as the eighth spot in the Conference, as they will have a date with the Celtics in the first round. While one can never tell what's going to happen in a playoff series, can anyone tell me that, say, the Atlanta Hawks, for example, who are in eighth now, and havent been to the playoffs in nine years, are going to have a long playoff series with Boston? They will likely succumb in either four or five games. While it will be exciting for the fans of Atlanta if the Hawks do make it, it isnt likely they are going to have a long playoff run.
So, that's my plan. Feedback is appreciated. Thanks.
Mitch
I should also add that while I know little about Hockey, I know that the NHL has the same playoff system as the NBA, with the top eight seeds in each conference qualifying for the playoffs, so anyone who is a fan of the NHL, and wishes to discuss that, please do so.
As I was reflecting on the opening of baseball season, another issue came to mind. Between the remainder of the regular season, three seven game conference playoff series, and the NBA Finals, there is still nearly three months left in the NBA season. It seems this is far too long.
Does it seem odd that baseball season ends every year in October, and then a week later, basketball season begins? There is little, if any, overlap in the two. In the NBA, teams are still playing in the Finals, in late June, as baseball teams are making All Star rosters. The basketball season lasts nearly eight months, and more than eight months, if you count the month of preseason games. It would seem to me this could be remedied. I'd appreciate feedback on one of two plans.
1. Shorten the conference playoffs by one round. Have the conference playoffs be only the three divisional winners in each conference, plus the team with the next best record, the "Wild Card", like they do in baseball. Say, if Boston finishes the season with the best record, at say, 65-17, and are Atlantic Division champs, have them play the wild card team, for instance, the Washington Wizards, who would have the second best record after all the division winners, while the other two division winners in the Southeast and Central play each other. Then, the winner of those two series plays each other for the right to go to the Finals. This would cut two weeks off the season, at least, with all the travel days.
2. Or, if you really wanted to be radical, one could have only the three division winners make the playoffs, with the team with the best record having first round bye, as the other two teams play for the right to face the best record in the conference finals. You could also shorten both the round between the second and third place teams, and the conference finals, to five games, instead of seven, and then have the usual seven game NBA Finals. This would not only cut out one whole round, but would also shorten all the pre Finals rounds, keeping the teams fresher, the season shorter, and fans more interested. When the Knicks won the NBA Finals in seven games in 1970, their last game was May 8. Now, when teams go to Game Seven of an NBA Finals, it can last until between the 20th and 25th of June. An eight month plus NBA season seems too long. Additionally, it also allows only teams that deserve to make the playoffs to be in it. This year, the Eastern Conference is so watered down, that you will likely have a team with maybe 35 or so wins as the eighth spot in the Conference, as they will have a date with the Celtics in the first round. While one can never tell what's going to happen in a playoff series, can anyone tell me that, say, the Atlanta Hawks, for example, who are in eighth now, and havent been to the playoffs in nine years, are going to have a long playoff series with Boston? They will likely succumb in either four or five games. While it will be exciting for the fans of Atlanta if the Hawks do make it, it isnt likely they are going to have a long playoff run.
So, that's my plan. Feedback is appreciated. Thanks.
Mitch
I should also add that while I know little about Hockey, I know that the NHL has the same playoff system as the NBA, with the top eight seeds in each conference qualifying for the playoffs, so anyone who is a fan of the NHL, and wishes to discuss that, please do so.
