Silver moves to clarify his comments from last week…
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has insisted that there will be no changes made to the current playoff format until the 2016/17 season at the earliest.
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Silver discussed the possible changes last week, where he explained that the top 16 teams in the NBA, regardless of their Conference, would make the post-season.
It came in response to criticism from fans of the NBA, who believe the current system is flawed. The argument is, that many weak teams in the East were making it to the playoffs despite poor records, while the competitive West was losing top teams.
While the changes sound interesting, Silver was keen to stress that there are plenty of other issues to sort out before any kind of change can be made to the current system.
“There is a lot to be said for taking a fresh look at our seedings and ensuring the very best teams are competing in the playoffs,” Silver said, according to USA Today.
“I should’ve been slightly more cautious in my response (to Golden State broadcaster) only because there is a long tradition in terms of our conference system. There are some important logistic issues we need to examine in terms of travel (and schedules). It’s fair to say it’s something that requires a very strong examination.”
One of the biggest factors that Silver will have to consider, is that big markets in the East could potentially fail to make the playoffs in the new system.
That would essentially impact on their support base and revenue, with smaller markets in the West making the post-season but not thriving in the same way.
Given his track record since becoming Commissioner, there is a great sense of confidence in Silver’s decision-making. He is unlikely to rush into any major decisions, and will undoubtedly discuss the situation with franchise owners before making any definitive choice.
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