Less Is More: Best Of 7 In Round 1

It’s been about a week and a half since the last time I made mention of the NBA playoffs, and, well, we are not much further along from where we last left off. Ever since the NBA switched from a best of 5 to a best of 7 format for the 1st round before the start of the 2003 playoffs, that’s pretty much been the norm though. That combined with the need to space the games out so that every game can be seen on national TV at a time that doesn’t conflict with another game has caused the NBA postseason to drag on until what seems like Halloween. If the NBA cared about making a better playoff system, they would at least go back to a best of 5 series in the 1st round. It will never happen because the NBA is a business, and the current system is more profitable; however, the NBA and all the other major professional sports leagues would be wise to understand that “more profitable” and “a better product” don’t always come hand in hand. With that being said, let’s look at each 1st round series and see whether a best of 7 is necessary in each.

Bulls-76ers (76ers lead 3-2)…In a best of 5 series, the Sixers would have taken this in 4 games, but even with Rose out, Noah out, and Deng hobbled I don’t trust Philly as far as I can throw them. They are just too young, inexperienced, and limited on the offensive end. Still, this had the makings of an ugly series ever since Rose went down at the end of game 1. This could very well end up going 7 games, but who honestly cares?

The verdict: This series should have been put out of its misery already…Best of 5.

Heat-Knicks (Heat lead 3-1)…This series is tailor-made for a best of 5 series. As Miami jumped out to a 3-0 series lead, it was clear as day that the Knicks weren’t going to offer the Heat a stiff challenge. Watching New York’s entire backcourt’s knees shatter every game didn’t help, but the Heat are overwhelmingly better. What was the result of having this series be a best of 7? A game 4 in New York where Miami looked bored and disinterested. There’s still no excuse for playing bored and disinterested in any playoff game, but do we really need to see the Heat smash the Knicks for 4 games instead of 3 to know they’re the better team?

The verdict: Was I not clear?...Best of 5.

Really? More?!?

Pacers-Magic (Pacers won 4-1)…In game 1, Indiana looked so much better than Orlando and somehow lost the game anyway. After that slip-up, the Pacers pretty much put their foot on the Magic’s throat in the next 4 games. This series probably would have been very interesting with a healthy Dwight Howard. Without him, it was a laugher.

The verdict: At least it was already put out of its misery…Best of 5.

Celtics-Hawks (Celtics lead 3-2)…I still maintain that for whatever reason Atlanta is a tough matchup for Boston. If this was a 5 game series, this would have been over already though. But with some what-ifs (the game 2 loss in Atlanta with Rondo suspended) and woulda-shoulda-couldas (the game 3 overtime loss in Boston) the Hawks could have conceivably been up 3-0 in the series too.

The verdict: And yet there’s almost no hypothetical scenario where I could see the Hawks winning a game 7 against the Celtics, which makes this kind of a silly argument…Best of 5.

Spurs-Jazz (Spurs won 4-0)…I thought Utah might have been able to at least make things interesting, but San Antonio just keeps rolling along. Just a quick note on the Spurs: including the end of the regular season they have won 14 in a row and 25 of 27 now!

The verdict: 1st degree murder. Wait, sorry…Best of 5.

Somebody notice us! We've only lost 2 games since mid-March!

 Thunder-Mavericks (Thunder won 4-0)…Would have liked to see the defending champs not go down in flames so quickly and give the young Thunder some of their comeuppance, but after deflating losses in the 1st 2 games in OKC this 1 seemed academic. The Thunder (and Spurs too by the way) did what Miami couldn’t in this 1st round: not get bored and disinterested in game 4.

The verdict: Sensing a pattern here?...Best of 5.

Lakers-Nuggets (Lakers lead 3-2)…This series is only interesting to me because I like watching George Karl teams play. There are no stars or egos. Everybody just plays hard. It’s almost like a college team in that respect. It’s especially fun since they are matched up against a Lakers team (that I loathe) who is the complete polar opposite of the Nuggets, where Kobe seemingly shoots 10 for 27 every night and Bynum looks like he’s always about to pout about something. And yet, much like the Hawks, the Nuggets would have been eliminated in 4 games if this was a best of 5 series. And, much like the Hawks against the Celtics, I have no confidence in the Nuggets eliminating LA no matter how many games they push them to.

The verdict: I gave love to Nick Young in a past post after constantly crushing him, so here’s some dap for JaVale McGee too, who has had a very nice couple of games in this series...Best of 5.

Grizzlies-Clippers (Clippers lead 3-1)…There have been other good games and good moments so far in these playoffs, but this has actually been the only series worth watching in its entirety. Both teams are young and hungry, there is a distinct contrast in playing styles, and it’s the only series where there seems to be some real animosity between the 2 teams (which is always fun). Still, you could argue that if this had been a best of 5 series it would already be over, and it wouldn’t have even gone the distance. With all that being said, LA has needed 1 of the greatest comebacks ever, a 1 point nail-biter, and overtime for each of their respective wins. The Grizzlies protecting home court in game 6, stealing a game at Staples Center, and coming back to Memphis for a deciding game 7 doesn’t seem out of the realm of possibilities.

The verdict: This is the only series where the NBA’s current best of 7 1st round series actually works for me. In fact, I’ll take best of 9 for Clips-Grizz please…Best of 7.

The Grizz had a chance to win every game in this series so far, so don't count them out yet.