RE: NBA commish wants to seed playoff teams 1-16 regardless of conference
I actually would like to see the 5 x 6 setup:
Pacific - LAL, LAC, Golden State, Sacramento, Portland, Phoenix
West - Utah, Denver, San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, OKC
Central - Minnesota, Milwaukee, Chicago, Indiana, Detroit, Cleveland
South - New Orleans, Memphis, Atlanta, Charlotte, Orlando, Miami
East - Washington, Philadelphia, New York, Brooklyn, Boston, Toronto
For 30 teams, start with a league-wide double round-robin, then 24 additional games inside your division, which means teams will play up to 7 times during the regular season.
The beauty of this alignment is at 31 teams. The schedule format is the same, although the divisions with six teams plays 22 extra division games, and the division with seven team plays 24 extra division games (an exact 6/2 setup). This also gives maximum flexiblity with expansion - want to add Seattle? You have the option of Phoenix changing divisions. Want to add Seattle and Kansas City? Kansas City can go in the West or Central.
At 32 teams, all the divisions are splitting 20 extra division games.
At 33 teams, the seven team divisions get an even 5/2 setup, while the six team divisions have 5/2 with 3 extra division games.
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