12/24/24
September 30, 2013
NBA Finals Likely to Adopt 2-2-1-1-1 Format: The NBA's competition committee has recommended that the NBA Finals return to the home/road 2-2-1-1-1 format abandoned by new NBA Commissioner David Stern in 1984, dumping the 2-3-2 format that gives the second-seeded team a home-court advantage through the first five games. The league's Board of Governors is expected to approve the change in October in time for the upcoming season's championship series.
posted by rcade to basketball at 02:33 PM - 6 comments
Too bad, I always liked the 2-3-2 format. I do realize though that I am in the minority on that.
posted by Mothball at 05:04 PM on September 30, 2013
The only good thing about the 2-3-2 format is that it reduces travel. Perhaps the NBA could keep the format and give the higher seed the choice of opening at home or away. True, the higher seed would be at a disadvantage by opening on the road in a 7-game series, but having a chance to have 3 wins in the first 5 games might be worth it. There really would be no difference if the road team steals one of the first 2 games.
posted by Howard_T at 05:43 PM on September 30, 2013
I prefer the 2-3-2 but I care about it so little that this will probably be a net positive once I factor in that I won't have to listen to people talk about it anymore.
posted by tron7 at 06:08 PM on September 30, 2013
If a series does go 7 games, the tension and anticipation that mounts during the last three games with the travel days between can be wonderfully intense.
The 1984 Lakers - Celtics Finals was unbelievable. So was the 1994 Rangers - Canucks Stanley Cup finals, just to name two from different sports.
posted by beaverboard at 09:11 PM on September 30, 2013
If a series does go 7 games, the tension and anticipation that mounts during the last three games with the travel days between can be wonderfully intense.
I was thinking the same thing. Moving back-and-forth helps ratchet up the tension. The extra travel times for the teams is less relevant these days because each team has its own charter.
posted by rcade at 08:47 AM on October 01, 2013
I'm happy. Thought they'd never do this.