OT: Will we ever see the Western Conference realign?

[-Ace-]

Man, I'd love to be back in the Pacific. What do you guys think the reason is for keeping it so out of wack geographically?

I'd love to see some more Pacific Divison banners hanging up in the rafters!

Lazy NBA is lazy.

 

[PapaG]

It's stupid, but it doesn't affect scheduling THAT much. I don't really care if they mess with it or not.

So true. It's basically the difference of 4 games played in the Pacific time zone over 4 games played outside of the time zone. Still, geographically, it does make sense, and it is a bit of a disadvantage for the Blazers to have to travel more miles than any other team in the NBA in terms of miles and time zones. Even 4 games of easier travel would help.

 

[PapaG]

Milwaukee doesn't belong in the NE, they belong in Central with Chicago.

BTW, back in the 1970s, Milwaukee and Chicago were both in the Western Conference. Even Indiana was in Western Conference when the Pacers made the jump from the ABA to the NBA. But, back then, there weren't any NBA teams in Texas, Denver, Utah, only 2 teams in California, etc.

The NBA has a long history of realignment as the league expanded, the ABA teams merged, teams moved, etc. I think it's time for the NBA to start seriously looking at realignment again.

BNM

The Spurs were in the East until the 1981 season, too, along with the Rockets, who made the move to the West the year before. Both teams were in the NBA, yet placed in the Eastern conference, after entering the NBA.

Houston in the Eastern conference during most of the 70s, actually, and the Spurs joined them after the ABA/NBA merger.

 

[Eastoff]

Western Conference: Memphis.

Eastern Conference:
Minny

Memphis is farther east than Minneapolis.

 

[Eastoff]

None of you got it right, so here is the correct realignment:

Atlantic: NY, Brooklyn, Philly, Boston, Washington
Central: Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Toronto, Indiana
Southeast: Orlando, Miami, Atlanta, Memphis, Charlotte

Southwest: San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, OKC, New Orleans
Flyover: Milwaukee, Minnesota, Utah, Phoenix, Denver
Pacific: LA,LA, Sac, GS, Portland

barfo

This one makes the most sense. I'm not sure about milwuakee and phoenix being in the same division, but at some point you have to shove Phoenix in somewhere.

 

[magnifier661]

Memphis is farther east than Minneapolis.

But minny is closer to the eastern market teams like Chicago, New York, Boston, etc.

Memphis is really close to Nola, sas, okc, etc.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Man, I'd love to be back in the Pacific. What do you guys think the reason is for keeping it so out of wack geographically?

I think it's because most of the teams that make up the NW division are all in very small markets and Stern couldn't give two shits. In his mind the Lakers are in the Pacific and the Celtics and Knicks are in the Atlantic and that's all that really matters.

 

[Eastoff]

But minny is closer to the eastern market teams like Chicago, New York, Boston, etc.

Memphis is really close to Nola, sas, okc, etc.

Good point.

 

[Boise Blazer]

Marc Stein @ESPNSteinLine
RT @JeffZillgitt: On @SiriusXMNBA, deputy commish Adam Silver said comp. committee will look at whether divisions have outlived usefulness

 

[magnifier661]

I do like the "Grantland" idea that you can still have the conferences, but the playoff seeding is the best 16 teams. #1 plays #16, #2 plays #15, #3 plays #14, #4 plays #13 and so on.

You could also throw in the division winners can guarantee a top 8th birth or something.

The finals will have the best teams fighting in the end!

 

[Blazer Fanatic]

it's not a big deal to the NBA what happens out here?

Plus, it doesn't drastically change travel times.

It does for Portland. And changing time zones is the hardest thing on players. Being in the same time zone as their division would be a significant improvement. When the Blazers start making some noise in the Playoffs, I'm sure this will get bumped up on the list of things to consider.

 

[Natebishop3]

I do like the "Grantland" idea that you can still have the conferences, but the playoff seeding is the best 16 teams. #1 plays #16, #2 plays #15, #3 plays #14, #4 plays #13 and so on.

You could also throw in the division winners can guarantee a top 8th birth or something.

The finals will have the best teams fighting in the end!

I like it. I think doing away with conferences would be interesting. Top sixteen teams. Do it!