NBA Announces Changes to Playoff Seeding: Details, Comments and Reaction
NBA divisions have yet to be eliminated, but the league took a step toward devaluing them Tuesday by officially announcing reforms to playoff-seeding procedures.
According to Pro Basketball Talk's Kurt Helin, NBA owners approved the implementation of a measure that will seed playoff teams based solely on their records. Division winners were previously locked into a top-four seed regardless of record.
Yahoo Sports' Marc Spears passed along the league's official statement:
The league's shift to a more straightforward format appears to have been in the making for a while, with Commissioner Adam Silver saying in July that a change was expected.
NBC Sports' Sean Highkin reported another new wrinkle in the system that should have teams in the Atlantic Division sweating:
Another key component of the seeding procedure is a new tiebreaker. While the NBA used to give division winners first preference when it came to breaking ties, head-to-head record will now dictate which team gets a higher seed.
Had the new system been in place last season, the Western Conference playoffs would have looked a bit different:
| 1. Golden State Warriors | 67-15 | 1. Golden State Warriors | 67-15 |
| 2. Houston Rockets | 56-26 | 2. Houston Rockets | 56-26 |
| 3. L.A. Clippers | 56-26 | 3. L.A. Clippers | 56-26 |
| 4. Portland Trail Blazers | 51-31 | 4. Memphis Grizzlies | 55-27 |
| 5. Memphis Grizzlies | 55-27 | 5. San Antonio Spurs | 55-27 |
| 6. San Antonio Spurs | 55-27 | 6. Portland Trail Blazers | 51-31 |
| 7. Dallas Mavericks | 50-32 | 7. Dallas Mavericks | 50-32 |
| 8. New Orleans Pelicans | 45-37 | 8. New Orleans Pelicans | 45-37 |
The one big change above revolves around the Portland Trail Blazers. Under the tenets of the new structure, the Blazers would have slid down to the No. 6 seed, and the San Antonio Spurs and Memphis Grizzlies would have each jumped up a spot.
The Spurs and Los Angeles Clippers would have subsequently avoided a titanic first-round clash that knocked out a surefire title contender just seven games into the postseason.
That said, the Brooklyn Game's Devin Kharpertian had an astute point to pass along regarding the importance of division titles:
Division-title banners may not hold the same weight they once did, but the league has taken a positive step toward eliminating seeding controversies moving forward.
With more attention focused on the high-powered squads vying for the 16 coveted playoff spots as opposed to a contentious process, the NBA's homestretch should be even more captivating than it was before.
