The NBA Finals have moved back to
the Format 2-2-1-1-1. Reasons given?
Well the one that stuck out to me was the comment on fairness. As well the competition factor of it
all. Now for those of you that don't
know the 2-3-2 format was adopted back in 1985.
I for being that’s when I was born have been a custom to that
format. Now I really do not think that
the 2-2-1-1-1 format will be better than the 2-3-2 format. I think the fact that the best team (with the
best record) being on the other teams floor provides a lot of excitement. I also think it was a fair format. Hey you have the best record more than likely
in the NBA, which means you are no push over and can handle that pressure very
well.
What I want to know is, what was
unfair about the best playing three on the road. Hey we have seen a lot of series go 4-0, 4-2,
4-1. And most of the time the best team
(on paper) pulls it out anyway. So why are we talking about fairness this is
the NBA nothing is fair. And then there
are times when the second best team (on paper) won. Then were times when teams were evenly
matched and things really got interesting then.
But that is what the NBA is all about.
I think the format 2-2-1-1-1 will
still be good for the NBA. But when it
comes to the excitement, entertainment that the Finals brings, I think it will
mostly be lost without the 2-3-2 format.
Once again I say it is still the NBA so no matter the format there will
be some excitement, entertainment, and drama that the Finals bring. But unfair is not the correct term to use when
we are talking about the NBA or NBA Finals.
In the years of the 2-3-2 there
have been 5 game 7’s, there have only been 4 sweeps, 7 Finals have been decided
by 5 or more games, and 13 times the series has gone 6 or more games. And with the favorite or team with the best
record winning probably 90- 95% of the time.
So I don’t think this is a question of fairness but rather the Money
being the issue.
Here is the 2-3-2 Format over the years is it really that
unfair
85: Lakers 4 vs Celtics 2
86: Celtics 4 vs Rockets 2
87: Lakers 4 vs Celtics 2
88: Lakers 4 vs
Pistons 3
89: Pistons 4 vs Lakers 0
90: Pistons 4 vs Blazers 1
91: Bulls 4 vs Lakers 1
92: Bulls 4 vs Blazers 2
93: Bulls 4 vs Suns 2
94: Rockets 4 vs Knicks 3
95: Rockets 4 vs Magic 0
96: Bulls 4 vs Sonics 2
97: Bulls 4 vs Jazz 2
98: Bulls 4 vs Jazz 2
99: Spurs 4 vs Knicks 1
00: Lakers 4 vs Pacers 2
01: Lakers 4 vs 76ers 1
02: Lakers: 4 vs Nets 0
03: Spurs 4 vs Nets 2
04: Pistons 4 vs Lakers 1
05: Spurs 4 vs Pistons 3
06: Heat 4 vs Mavs. 2
07: Spurs 4 vs Cavs. 0
08: Celtics 4 vs Lakers 2
09: Lakers 4 vs Magic 1
10: Lakers 4 vs Celtics 3
11: Mavs. 4 vs Heat 2
12: Heat 4 vs Thunder 1
13: Heat 4 vs Spurs 3
