D-League Introducing New Playoff Structure

by Scott Schroeder on Mar 9, 2009 5:06 PM EDT Comment 14 comments

I've held off on posting this since I learned that it was going to happen because I wasn't able to find my stance on it. Is it good? bad? cool? lame? dumb? I don't know. I guess I can argue for/against any of these. Regardless, here's the official release from our friends at the D-League.

NEW YORK, March 9, 2009 - The NBA Development League announced today it has implemented an innovative new format for this year's playoffs, which are set to begin as early as April 13.

For the first time, eight teams will qualify for the 2009 NBA D-League postseason, including the winners of the three divisions along with the five teams with the best regular season records, regardless of division.

New for the 2009 postseason, the three division winners will have the unique opportunity to select their first round opponent from the teams ranked five through eight. The top-seeded division winner will select its opponent first, with the second and third ranked division winners following in that order. The fourth seeded team will play the remaining team.

"One of our fundamental goals at the NBA D-League is to utilize our unique position to explore new and different ways to grow the game," said Dan Reed, President of the NBA D-League. "We believe that these innovations will provide our fans with compelling matchups and action packed games."

The first and second rounds of the 2009 NBA D-League playoffs will be one game each, while the Finals will be a best-of-three series. The first two rounds will be played on the higher seeds home floor, while the Finals will begin at the lower seed's arena and finish at the higher seeds home court.

The 2008-09 NBA D-League regular seasons concludes on April 11.

Let me know what you think. D-League people, feel free to sound off. Jon, Alex, Garrett, Vance, Jeff, Mike, and anyone else out there, let me know what you think. LOVED the discussion this weekend in the comments.

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Well judging by the standings

If the playoffs started today Colorado would be the #1 seed and face #8 Bakersfield. I can’t see why they would want to face any of the teams with better records. I applaud their creativity, but this is much ado about nothing because I doubt for example that Colorado would want to face #4 Austin in the first round who has the second best record in the league.

What the D-League should have done is make the divisions only guarantee a playoff spot. Austin has the 2nd best record in the league and yet they will probably end up with the toughest first round opponent [going by records in Utah].

I would rather them seed the playoffs by record [division titles guarantee playoff spots].

by hkf on Mar 9, 2009 5:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That's kind of what I was thinking..

You never know though. I guess it depends on some other factors, but for the most part, I’m assuming it’ll be 1-8 2-7, etc.

Ridiculous? I think Not.
Upside? Plenty.
RidiculousUpside

by Scott Schroeder on Mar 9, 2009 5:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Playoffs

Yeah this is pretty cool, even though Brandt told me earlier in the year…

I think it will be cool to have 8 teams in the playoffs. I hope we (utah) can play boise for the championship… that way i could go to the game…

i showed you some love on my blog… fanaticflashfan.blogspot.com

by Dee-Jay on Mar 9, 2009 5:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

As I said

It has been tossed around for awhile, but I just didn’t have any sort of stance on it..
Thanks for “showing me some love”

Ridiculous? I think Not.
Upside? Plenty.
RidiculousUpside

by Scott Schroeder on Mar 9, 2009 5:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I just don’t think it is going to matter. I agree with hkf If I am Colorado why would I play someone with a better record who might have a better shot at beating me. I also think that division winners should be guaranteed the top 4 seeds. But not necessarily the top 3. (LIKE IN THE NBA)

The only way I can see a team utilize playing a higher seeded team could be because of late season injuries or NBA Assignment. Other than that why pick a higher seeded team in a one and done tournament to have that additional bulletin board material.

Interesting concept, but really just fodder for a press release and maybe some national pub.

Alex Del Barrio
RGV Vipers

by vipersradio on Mar 9, 2009 5:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Good.

So consensus, lame.
My thoughts, and I think this could come up, however far fetched, is based on the economy. Say, hypothetically. Dakota gets the three seed and Sioux Falls gets the five seed, or vice versa. With bus travel being a possibility, and the economy being a factor, I wonder if the draw of cheaper travel and better crowd due to the rivalry could come into play.
Granted, the coaches probably wouldn’t be happy with this.

Ridiculous? I think Not.
Upside? Plenty.
RidiculousUpside

by Scott Schroeder on Mar 9, 2009 5:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I like the idea

it might not make much of a difference, but say a team absolutely dominates you… maybe you go up 1 seed and take a team that you match up better with.

Jazzardous Materials
3rd Down & Full Count

by UtesFan89 on Mar 9, 2009 8:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Definitely

Not enough to get the press that it’s got today (lots better stories in the D-League than this), but it could ocassionally come into play.

Ridiculous? I think Not.
Upside? Plenty.
RidiculousUpside

by Scott Schroeder on Mar 9, 2009 8:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

From Rod Benson's Twitter

really though, doesn’t a playoff scheme like that de-legitimize the de-league?

Ridiculous? I think Not.
Upside? Plenty.
RidiculousUpside

by Scott Schroeder on Mar 10, 2009 1:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I wondered the same thing

In general I think the D-League does a good job of navigating between being taken seriously as a relatively-new league and serving as a “laboratory of ideas” for the NBA, but I can’t imagine the NBA adopting something like this. I know there have been calls for a change in playoff format, but that seems like something Stern would place off-limits.

by Jon L on Mar 10, 2009 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

With Rod on this. I think this just makes the d-league look very unprofessional, it’s just silly. We play the games for a reason to get into the playoffs so set a format up, don’t just say "ok you are one of the top seeds pick who you want to play" Just looks really BAD!!! Not impressed with the league on this on at all!!

by jo22collins on Mar 10, 2009 10:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm fine with it

I am okay with this idea. I agree that it won’t really come into play too often, but it could be cool when it does (for all the reasons mentioned above). Will the NBA ever implement it? Probably not, but I think it’s a nice way to make our league unique. I don’t think that it really does anything to “de-legitimize” the league. Look at the BCS, that is much goofier but college football still has a decent following.

I am surprised that they just announced this over two-thirds of the way through the season. But hey, I am just here to sell tickets, not pass judgment.

www.madantsgarrett.blogspot.com

by MadAntsGarrett on Mar 10, 2009 4:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That's the thing

Why announce this in March when the playoffs start in April. Sure, most teams already knew about it, but I think that might be the biggest factor that may “de-legitimize the de-league”.

Does this have any affect on the ticket sales? I know you’re not so much into single game sales, but if Fort Wayne somehow wins out and no one else in the division gets more than two wins, will there be a push to bring in a rival rather than the easiest opponent to boost ticket sales?

Ridiculous? I think Not.
Upside? Plenty.
RidiculousUpside

by Scott Schroeder on Mar 10, 2009 7:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I like your optimistic outlook

The rival factor is something that I did not even consider. The writer for the Journal Gazette (our local paper) brought up this point in his blog. I think it is a good point against the new system. I would much rather play Dakota or Sioux Falls in a playoff game because it would make the game much more appealing to our diehard fans. Now as to who Jeff and the Coaches would rather play is a different story. The goal is still to win a championship. Here is a link to Steve Warden’s blog :
http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090310/BLOGS17/903109876

He also brings up a point about travel that could be another factor in who teams pick to play.

by MadAntsGarrett on Mar 11, 2009 8:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs