Question about playoff seeding!

[rugbyta]

Am I correct in that the only way we get higher than a forth seed is if we win the division. Aren't the first 3 spots taken by the division leaders. With all the excitement lately i have kind of gotten confused. Does that mean that the only way we get higher than a forth seed is if we pass Denver. I don't see that happening but I do think we are a lock for the forth seed in the playoffs!!

 

[Boob-No-More]

Yes, the three division winners get the top three seeds.

However, HCA is determined by record.

So, say the Spurs win the SW Divison, but the Blazers finish with a better regular season record and end up with the 4th seed. The Spurs would get the 3rd seed and would play the 6th seeded team in the first round. The Blazers would get the 4th seed and play the 5th seeded team in the first round. Should both teams win their 1st and 2nd round match-ups and end up playing against each other in the Western Conference Finals, the Blazers, in spite of being the lower seed, would have HCA due to having a better regular season record.

BNM

 

[adisodes]

Boob-no-more, you're right about the home court advantage thing. But the 3 division winners do not get the top 3 seeds. They changed that rule a few years after the 6th seed Clippers had a better record than the 3rd seed Nuggets. The rule is you take the 3 division winners plus the next winningest team and those are the top 4 seeds (in order of record).

So if you win a division, you are guaranteed a 4th seed, but you're not necessarily guaranteed home court advantage.

 

[Ed O]

Boob-no-more, you're right about the home court advantage thing. But the 3 division winners do not get the top 3 seeds. They changed that rule a few years after the 6th seed Clippers had a better record than the 3rd seed Nuggets. The rule is you take the 3 division winners plus the next winningest team and those are the top 4 seeds (in order of record).

So if you win a division, you are guaranteed a 4th seed, but you're not necessarily guaranteed home court advantage.

Yep, and while it's counter-intuitive, the reason is to stop teams from jockeying for 6th place, rather than trying to get to 5th.

Ed O.