NBA Playoffs: 2 Months for 2 Minutes

Photo: kobebeef.com

10 years ago, David Stern decided to extend first-round playoff series' from five to seven games. The obvious addition of TV ad revenue dumbed down a maligned playoff system. If the casual fan didn’t need to watch an NBA game until the final two minutes, it certainly didn’t need to watch the Playoffs until the final couple games.

Last year, the Playoffs started on April 28 and ended on June 21st. The Heat beat the Thunder in 5 games. If the series wasn’t so one-sided, the playoffs would’ve taken over two months! Half the league makes the playoffs (16/32 teams) and it takes 82 games to decide the seeding? 10 years ago, the Heat, Bulls, Knicks, Thunder, Spurs, and Warriors would’ve already been in the second round. Boom, 33% of the playoff teams decided before the end of April and most NBA analysts chose the aforementioned before the season even started! With the exception of Derrick Rose’s injury to the Bulls, the previous teams either have depth or remained healthy a majority of the season.

The Bulls aren’t serious contenders without Rose just like the Celtics were never contenders without Rajon Rondo. The Lakers proposed starting five of Nash, Kobe, Ron Artest, The Llama, and Superbitch played SEVEN games together all season. Add to all of this the offseason movement of Jeremy Lin, James Harden, and the effect that it had on the Knicks and Thunder’s depth, the Miami Heat actually got better by the law of attrition (Judas Shuttlesworth also helped).

Russell Westbrook’s injury made the Thunder’s return trip to the Finals almost impossible. “Almost” because Kevin Durant is still special, but the West has come down to one series: Lob City versus Z-Bo and the Grizzlies. They’re tied at 2 games apiece while the Spurs watch after sweeping the Fakers. Considering the rest of the first round match-ups, wouldn’t a fifth game to decide it all between the Clippers and Griz be great? Instead, we wait for the Grizz to win two more while the Spurs veterans get their much-needed rest, waiting to face Golden State (educated guess).

Essentially, this is the 66-win Miami Heatles against the winner of the Grizzlies or Spurs. Miami got to rest its stars last month after their win streak came to an end. The Spurs get to rest their stars for about a week right now. I’ll see you in June for the final few minutes.