Monday, March 10, 2014

NBA: Fixing the Scheduling, Conference, and Seeding Issues

The NBA currently has 2 conferences, each with 3 divisions of 5 teams, for a total of 30 teams. For the schedule, each team plays its 4 divisional opponents 4 times each (16 total games), 6 intra-conference teams 4 times each (24 total games), the other 4 intra-conference teams 3 times each (12 total games), and the 15 inter-conference opponents 2 times each (30 total games). This yields an 82-game schedule, with 41 home and 41 away games. For the playoffs, the 3 division champions and 5 next-best teams in each conference qualify.

However, there is a large problem: the Western Conference has dominated the Eastern Conference so much in inter-conference play for the better part of the past decade that playing in the East is an unfair advantage; several Western Conference teams could've qualified for the playoffs in the other conference, but missed it in the West, while every season there are Eastern conference teams with sub-.500 records qualifying for the playoffs. How could this be fixed?

First of all, I suggest eliminating the 2 conferences altogether. That would yield a single 30-team conference.

Now for the schedule. Since an 82-game schedule isn't evenly divisible by 29 teams, the NBA would need to get creative with its scheduling formula. Playing every team home-and-home is of utmost importance, so we have 58 of the 82 games accounted for. One thing the NFL does to really help out its struggling franchises is give the worst teams the easiest schedules. Since the NBA has more teams that consistently struggle than the NFL, this would be a good addition for the Association. For this, we take the past season's results, then place the 30 teams into 3 even tiers. Teams in each tier then play the 9 other teams 2 additional times each (18 total games). That brings the total up to 76 games accounted for. Also important in nearly every sport is the regional rivalries. To preserve these, every team would then play their 3 biggest rivals 2 additional times each (6 total games) to reach the desired 82-game tally.

So for a single team, you will play your closest rivals at least 4 times each, everyone else at least 2 times each, then 2 additional times for the 9 teams in the respective tier. This increases high-profile match-ups and gives more even match-ups across the board, which will help ratings and ticket sales.

The Regional Rivalries: 
Atlanta: Charlotte, Miami, Orlando
Boston: New York, Philadelphia, Toronto
Brooklyn: Miami, New York, Washington
Charlotte: Atlanta, Orlando, Washington
Chicago: Milwaukee, Minnesota, Indiana
Cleveland: Detroit, Indiana, Toronto
Dallas: Houston, Oklahoma City, San Antonio
Denver: Portland, Phoenix, Utah
Detroit: Cleveland, Indiana, Toronto
Golden State: LA Clippers, LA Lakers, Sacramento
Houston: Dallas, New Orleans, San Antonio
Indiana: Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit
LA Clippers: Golden State, LA Lakers, Sacramento
LA Lakers: Golden State, LA Clippers, Phoenix
Miami: Atlanta, Brooklyn, Orlando
Memphis: Milwaukee, New Orleans, Oklahoma City
Milwaukee: Chicago, Memphis, Minnesota
Minnesota: Chicago, Milwaukee, Oklahoma City
New Orleans: Houston, Memphis, San Antonio
New York: Boston, Brooklyn, Philadelphia
Oklahoma City: Dallas, Memphis, Minnesota
Orlando: Atlanta, Charlotte, Miami
Philadelphia: Boston, New York, Washington
Phoenix: Denver, LA Lakers, Utah
Portland: Denver, Sacramento, Utah
Sacramento: Golden State, LA Clippers, Portland
San Antonio: Dallas, Houston, New Orleans
Toronto: Boston, Cleveland, Detroit
Utah: Arizona, Denver, Portland
Washington: Brooklyn, Charlotte, Philadelphia

Playoff Seedings:
Take the top 16 seeds. That eliminates sub-.500 teams from entering the playoffs in most seasons, and ensures that the best make it.

For the All-Star Game:
Follow the NHL and have the fans vote for 2 captains that draft their teams.

An Example for the Dallas Mavericks Based off of the 2012-13 Standings:
Adjusted 2013 Playoff Seeding:
-17th overall -- No playoffs (#15 Utah would've gotten in over #18 Milwaukee)
2014 Schedule:
-Houston (6 games)
-Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, LA Lakers, Milwaukee, Oklahoma City, Philadelphia, San Antonio, Toronto, Utah (4 games each, 40 total)
-All other teams (2 games each, 36 total)

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