Sure, the Avalanche and Stars are getting a raw deal by (probably) having to face each other in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs this April. Everybody knows the bracket structure is nonsensical, except the NHL commissioner’s office. But can we maybe show a little sympathy for the top Western Conference teams in the NBA, too?
All the think pieces will tell you the NHL is overdue for an overhaul of the wild card system, that it’s time to simplify by seeding each conference No. 1 through No. 8, like the NBA does. Those think pieces will be correct.
To an extent.
The thing is, it’s not like the NBA playoffs are a perfectly fair meritocracy. In the West, we have the 60-win Thunder potentially facing the Clippers, who suddenly look twice as lethal with a healthy Kawhi Leonard, and the second-seeded Rockets challenging Steph Curry’s Warriors, who coincidentally surged after the trade deadline.
In the East, we could end up with, uh … Cavaliers vs. Bulls (32-40)? Celtics vs. Hawks (35-37)?
Yippee.
Look, it’s probably not that big a deal. I’m self-aware enough to know I’m having an “old man yells at cloud” moment. (Never mind that I’m still in my 20s.) But the fact remains that 25% of the first round is going to be a complete waste of time. If that must be the case — if there aren’t enough good teams to fill out a 16-team bracket every year — then maybe we should at least reward the two best regular-season squads with the sub-.500 matchups.
The main teams impacted here are Boston and Oklahoma City. The Celtics are a full 6.5 games back of the Thunder and got swept head-to-head this season, but they’re in line to get what amounts to a free pass into the second round while OKC has no such luck. Try playing in a lousier conference next year.
In the last two seasons, Western Conference teams are 484-368 against Eastern Conference opponents, reviving a familiar old trend.
The Thunder should win regardless of the opponent. But what if Leonard stays healthy and draws out the series? What if Curry or Anthony Edwards drops a couple of 40-pieces, and suddenly Paycom Center has to host a Game 7? The ramifications of a long series early in the playoffs can be felt down the road, either via fatigue or injuries. Meanwhile, the Celtics should be able to send their players to Cancun for a few days after the first round. Not because they’ve been eliminated, but because they’ll waiting for the Knicks or Bucks.
To the Atlantas, Chicagos, Orlandos and Miamis of the basketball world (why do all four East Play-In cities end in vowels?), I’m sorry for the disrespect. I don’t mean to say you have zero chance to win a series. I just believe that teams with losing records don’t belong in the playoffs, and that continuing to allow them in is begging for a terrible product.
It all got me thinking. While Colorado sports fans spend the next few weeks grumbling about two of the top three teams in the NHL being forced to slug it out in the first round, why not take your complaint a step further?
Instead of merely tweeting into the void that hockey needs a new system, you can suggest eschewing conference brackets altogether. You can impress your friends and family by arguing that both the NHL and NBA should seed the playoffs using league-wide standings, from No. 1 to No. 16.
If nothing else, it’s fun to imagine what the bracket might look like. Here’s one of the ways it could hypothetically shake out in the NBA this year.
• 1) Thunder vs. 16) Magic
• 8) Grizzlies vs. 9) Pacers
• 5) Knicks vs. 12) Timberwolves
• 4) Rockets vs. 13) Pistons
• 6) Nuggets vs. 11) Bucks
• 3) Celtics vs. 14) Warriors
• 7) Lakers vs. 10) Clippers
• 2) Cavaliers vs. 15) Suns
Just think of the fun matchups and storylines that we’re not used to seeing in a playoff setting. A showdown between both sides of the Karl-Anthony Towns trade. A turf war in Los Angeles between big brother and little brother. A 2022 NBA Finals rematch that’s also a Boston vs. Jimmy Butler rematch. A bitter rivalry between billionaire owners in the mortgage business (yes, that’s a real thing going on in Cleveland and Phoenix). A clash of scrappy, on-the-rise teams with talented identical twins matching up against each other. Jokic vs. Giannis.
Most importantly, the Bulls and Heat are nowhere to be seen. The Hawks, Magic, Kings, Suns and Mavericks would be battling for the last two spots. And whichever two losing records sneak in, they’d be facing the actual top two teams in the league.
You’re uncertain. You respect and appreciate the traditions of old. The rivalries that slowly form over years molded out of the conference setup. I get it. I’m not even entirely sold on the idea myself.
But I know I will be when I’m watching the Celtics take a 30-point lead in Game 4 against the Hawks this month.
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