Milwaukee Bucks 2019 playoffs Rd 1 vs Detroit Pistons

[CheezWizHed]

I'd be ok with 16 teams in the playoffs, but I'd prefer if:

1) They play every other day

2) They play 3 first round, 5 second, and 7 from there.

 

Yes, it's all about $$$, but good grief this is slow and long.

[young guns]

And now Boston is sitting at least 7 days, if we win tomorrow we are sitting at least 6 days and rockets in the same boat. Basically all the series but 1 could be done by Tuesday with the next round staring Thursday next week(though it does seem like there is some wiggle room but can't find out what would need to happen for the second round to start next weekend).

[DuWayne Steurer]

I know why the NBA still plays this first round series (money), but this just doesn’t do it for me. I know an 8-seed has upset the 1 before, but realistically, how far can an 8-seed (or even a 5) advance?

 

 

94-95 Rockets went 47-35 and were a 6 seed and won the NBA finals.

 

98-99 Knicks were the 8 seed (50 game season) and went to the finals.

 

I guess even if an 8 seed has no chance of going all the way, it can still impact the playoffs a lot by taking out the 1 seed. Then you have a four or five with a lot easier path to the finals.

[nodakfan17]

I know why the NBA still plays this first round series (money), but this just doesn’t do it for me. I know an 8-seed has upset the 1 before, but realistically, how far can an 8-seed (or even a 5) advance?

 

 

94-95 Rockets went 47-35 and were a 6 seed and won the NBA finals.

 

98-99 Knicks were the 8 seed (50 game season) and went to the finals.

 

I guess even if an 8 seed has no chance of going all the way, it can still impact the playoffs a lot by taking out the 1 seed. Then you have a four or five with a lot easier path to the finals.

Those are two pretty good counter examples, but I’d argue there is less parity in the league today than there was 20 years ago.

 

I didn’t enjoy the first round when the Bucks were the 8-seed and I’m not finding it much more enjoyable as the top seed.

[DuWayne Steurer]

I know why the NBA still plays this first round series (money), but this just doesn’t do it for me. I know an 8-seed has upset the 1 before, but realistically, how far can an 8-seed (or even a 5) advance?

 

 

94-95 Rockets went 47-35 and were a 6 seed and won the NBA finals.

 

98-99 Knicks were the 8 seed (50 game season) and went to the finals.

 

I guess even if an 8 seed has no chance of going all the way, it can still impact the playoffs a lot by taking out the 1 seed. Then you have a four or five with a lot easier path to the finals.

Those are two pretty good counter examples, but I’d argue there is less parity in the league today than there was 20 years ago.

 

I didn’t enjoy the first round when the Bucks were the 8-seed and I’m not finding it much more enjoyable as the top seed.

 

From 1980 to 1991 The Lakers made to the NBA Finals 9 times. That's not a glaring example of parity. Philadelphia, Boston, and Detroit managed to eat up every Eastern conference finals appearance during the 80's. Then it was pretty much BUlls, Bulls, Bulls in the 90's.

 

The NBA has never really been about parity.

 

From 1980 til now (38 years!) the NBA has had 11 different champions.

 

Just for comparison sake, in that time the NFL has had 17 different champs, and surprisingly, the league that doesn't have a salary cap, MLB, has 22 different champions.

[nodakfan17]

Your points are valid (11 champs in 38 years, yikes), but the NBA is also a different animal. The playoff format minimizes upset potential and helps produce a true champion. Yeah, Jordan owned the 90s, but there were many decent teams that were each lead by a franchise / HOF player.

[Baldkin]

Your points are valid (11 champs in 38 years, yikes), but the NBA is also a different animal. The playoff format minimizes upset potential and helps produce a true champion. Yeah, Jordan owned the 90s, but there were many decent teams that were each lead by a franchise / HOF player.

 

The talent level in the NBA is at it's highest since the mid 90's. There is a huge abundance of star power.

 

Because a #1 seed is destroying the #8 seed in the weaker conference is not a reason to eliminate playoff games or to remove a series. It's what #1 seeds should do.

 

Except in Hockey, apparently.

[nodakfan17]

But was the 4/5 series in the East even that great? I know the first round isn’t going anywhere. As a casual fan, I’m just lamenting what a futile exercise this appears to be.

 

Edit: Yes, I know Oladipo is out.

[tmwiese55]

Check out this year. First round was the best round of the whole playoffs. Also, the Hous/Por series ended in a Lillard walkoff even though it didn't go 7 games.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_NBA_playoffs

[nodakfan17]

Check out this year. First round was the best round of the whole playoffs. Also, the Hous/Por series ended in a Lillard walkoff even though it didn't go 7 games.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_NBA_playoffs

 

2014 was probably more fun for fans, but the top seeded teams in both conferences each advanced to their respective Conference Finals.

 

But that’s just me. I recognize the first round isn’t going anywhere and that most fans don’t mind the extra basketball.

[brooks_quichenick]

Pistons flopping around like crazy tonight!

[DuWayne Steurer]

Good lord watching the pistons flop is flat out sickening.

[CheezWizHed]

I was just about to post the same. I didn't see Brown's second "elbow", but the one to Blake was a phantom.

[brooks_quichenick]

The Bucks are pouring it on now folks

[DuWayne Steurer]

A few minutes ago this was a 10 point lead.

[homer]

I think that's the worst 4 game playoff beatdown in NBA history.

[True Blue Brew Crew]

I think that's the worst 4 game playoff beatdown in NBA history.

 

Almost. 2010 Magic over Hawks was the only 4 game sweep with a higher point differential.

[owbc]

No chaos like the NHL please. We are the 1-seed, the more calm and predictable the playoffs, the better. The main lesson is that it doesn't take 7 games to figure out which team is better, so may as well have a shorter first round series or play the games more frequently. But a 1 vs 8 is certainly better than the meaningless regular season games the Bucks have been playing for the past month or two.

 

Bucks vs. Celtics is bound to be more intriguing. Bring it on.

[Pugger]

I think that's the worst 4 game playoff beatdown in NBA history.

 

Good. The way that group flops around they deserve to be embarrassed. The next round against the Celtics will not be so easy.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

I know why the NBA still plays this first round series (money), but this just doesn’t do it for me. I know an 8-seed has upset the 1 before, but realistically, how far can an 8-seed (or even a 5) advance?

 

 

94-95 Rockets went 47-35 and were a 6 seed and won the NBA finals.

 

98-99 Knicks were the 8 seed (50 game season) and went to the finals.

 

I guess even if an 8 seed has no chance of going all the way, it can still impact the playoffs a lot by taking out the 1 seed. Then you have a four or five with a lot easier path to the finals.

Those are two pretty good counter examples, but I’d argue there is less parity in the league today than there was 20 years ago.

 

I didn’t enjoy the first round when the Bucks were the 8-seed and I’m not finding it much more enjoyable as the top seed.

 

Knicks aren't really a great example. That was a lockout season where Ewing and Sprewell missed a chunk of that 50-game season. In a regular year that was a 50+ win team.

 

Even so, 8s beating 1s doesn't justify the playoff format IMO. I'm sure if you tossed the Browns into the playoffs every year in the 2000s eventually they'd have beaten somebody.

[homer]

The first round should go back to being 5 games.

[tmwiese55]

I agree. First, just simply to speed things up a bit since the playoffs are two months. Second, NBA is typically the most predictable playoffs that in 7 games the better team almost always wins. Dropping it to 5 increases the chances of some upsets. Fans love upsets and generally I'd consider it a good thing to give some lower a seeds a better chance instead of fans (like us for years) rolling their eyes at getting a 6-8 just to get creamed first round. All of a sudden you steal one game on the road like Orl and BKN did and you never know what could happen.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Too many teams, too long first 2 rounds, fixed bracket is dumb, and in years where the West 9th seed is 47-35 and the East 7th seed is 38-44, there should be a re-seeding process that lets those teams in. Filed under ideas that will never happen.

[tmwiese55]

Good point. I would be all for reseeidng the 2nd round. Say the 7 seed beats the 2 then let the 1 play them instead of being forced to play the 4.

 

The East/West thing isn't gonna happen though. You'll just never get the East owners to vote against themselves in that away.

[bigjase]

So do we know when round 2 starts? Everything I'm finding makes it look like they have to wait for the entire round to be completed for East and West before they announce dates?