Division imbalance

OK, it's early yet, but it's striking how the power in the East is
concentrated in one of the three divisions: the Central, the one the
Pistons are in. As of this morning (Dec. 3), *every* team in the
Central is over .500 (Detroit, Cleveland, Indy, Milwaukee, and
Chicago). Meanwhile, the whole rest of the eastern conference has only
one team that isn't under .500 (Miami). And Detroit, Cleveland and
Indy have the three best records in the East.

I presume this will even out a little as the season goes on (and that
some team in the Atlantic Division, Philly, NJ, or Boston, will wind up
a bit over .500). But this imbalanace clearly helps Miami. First,
Detroit will be in a much tougher battle to stay in first place the
Central than Miami will be to finish first in the Southeast Dvision --
and not finishing first in your division means a fourth seed at best.
Second, even if Detroit does manage to finish first in the Central and
first in the Conference, that would probably give Miami a much easier
second round opponent than Detroit would get. In that scenario,
assuming things go according to seeding in the first round) with Miami
as the two seed would face the three seed Atlantic Division champ,
while Detroit as the one seed would face a much tough Indy or Cleveland
(the likely four seed at this point).

Of course, Indy and the Cavs could complain that they could wind up
with the second and third best records in the conference (that's the
case right now) and have to play each other in the first round (they
would be the 4 and 5 seeds if the playoffs started today).

So, the distribution of teams seems to favor Miami over the other top
contenders. Of course, Heat fans might say that they expect to finish
first in the conference, and therefore have the problem of Cleveland or
Indy in the second round. Either way, is home court advantage in the
conference finals worth a much tougher opponent in the conference
semis?--Joe

<jslater RemoveThis @utnet.utoledo.edu> wrote in message
news:1133626034.488075.140250@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> OK, it's early yet, but it's striking how the power in the East is
> concentrated in one of the three divisions: the Central, the one the
> Pistons are in. As of this morning (Dec. 3), *every* team in the
> Central is over .500 (Detroit, Cleveland, Indy, Milwaukee, and
> Chicago). Meanwhile, the whole rest of the eastern conference has only
> one team that isn't under .500 (Miami). And Detroit, Cleveland and
> Indy have the three best records in the East.
>
> I presume this will even out a little as the season goes on (and that
> some team in the Atlantic Division, Philly, NJ, or Boston, will wind up
> a bit over .500). But this imbalanace clearly helps Miami. First,
> Detroit will be in a much tougher battle to stay in first place the
> Central than Miami will be to finish first in the Southeast Dvision --
> and not finishing first in your division means a fourth seed at best.
> Second, even if Detroit does manage to finish first in the Central and
> first in the Conference, that would probably give Miami a much easier
> second round opponent than Detroit would get. In that scenario,
> assuming things go according to seeding in the first round) with Miami
> as the two seed would face the three seed Atlantic Division champ,
> while Detroit as the one seed would face a much tough Indy or Cleveland
> (the likely four seed at this point).
>
> Of course, Indy and the Cavs could complain that they could wind up
> with the second and third best records in the conference (that's the
> case right now) and have to play each other in the first round (they
> would be the 4 and 5 seeds if the playoffs started today).
>
> So, the distribution of teams seems to favor Miami over the other top
> contenders. Of course, Heat fans might say that they expect to finish
> first in the conference, and therefore have the problem of Cleveland or
> Indy in the second round. Either way, is home court advantage in the
> conference finals worth a much tougher opponent in the conference
> semis?--Joe
>

it's the same in the SW. memphis and dallas could end up being the second
and third best teams in the conf, and get to play each other in round one,
then get to go on the road vs the spurs in round two. the best team could
have to face the second best team in round two. the fourth and fifth best
teams could end up with easier (can't say easy if they are not that good)
schedules.

the current playoff format is stupid.

dave