By now it's not exactly a major news flash that the Eastern Conference isn't anywhere near as deep as the Western Conference.
The Nets and Miami Heat, who would both be in the playoffs if they started today with records way below .500, wouldn't be the worst teams in NBA history to make the postseason. Chicago, San Antonio and Boston have all had teams that, when combining regular-season and postseason records, have had teams make the playoffs with winning percentages of .419 or less twice.
And the Bulls, Spurs and Celtics franchises are basketball royalty.But even they have experienced bad times.
Image Credit: superstartickets.com
One of the ideas that has been talked about -- and will likely one day happen, somehow -- is for the best 16 teams to make the playoffs, regardless of conference.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver joined the Golden State Warriors' broadcast Wednesday night when the Warriors beat the Dallas Mavericks. During the broadcast, Silver talked about the idea that so many fans and maybe players in the Western Conference have been dying to hear. The commissioner of the NBA is thinking about redesigning the NBA playoffs format to have the best teams in the postseason than just the top 8 from each conference.
Conference imbalance between the West and the East has been going on for over a decade now and it's left a good team or two in the West out of the playoffs while lesser teams in the East manage to get in.
So here's a look at what that playoff bracket would look like, if this season ended Sunday:
1. Golden State vs. 16. New Orleans.
2. Atlanta vs. 15. Phoenix.
3. Memphis vs. 14. Oklahoma City.
4. Houston vs. 13. Milwaukee.
5. Toronto vs. 12. Washington.
6. L.A. Clippers vs. 11. Cleveland.
7. Dallas vs. 10. San Antonio.
8. Portland vs. 9. Chicago.
Seriously, who wouldn't take that right now (except Miami and Brooklyn, who would fall off the postseason bracket in this system)?
Anthony Davis vs. the Splash Brothers in a first-round series. Chris Paul matching wits with LeBron James to open the playoffs (and everyone who follows college basketball's postseason knows an 11 seed has to beat a 6 seed every year). Bulls vs. Blazers, a rematch of NBA Finals past in an opening-round matchup.
New York Knicks: On their way to the worst season in franchise history, the Knicks will continue their attempt to win a game without Carmelo Anthony. New York is 0-15 without Anthony this season, and visits the Celtics on Wednesday, visits the Pistons on Friday and plays host to the Raptors on Saturday.
Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers: It's not too early for an NBA Finals preview. Golden State travels to Cleveland on Thursday night, a nationally televised game that will surely get tons of attention. Golden State won the season's first meeting last month by 18, though that was with LeBron James sitting out.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Oklahoma City has climbed back onto the Western Conference playoff bracket after its disastrous start, and now tries to stay there with Kevin Durant set to miss at least a week because of pain in his surgically repaired foot. The Thunder play four games this week, including a trip to Phoenix -- also jostling for that No. 8 spot out West -- on Thursday.
Atlanta Hawks: Atlanta sharpshooter Kyle Korver's chase of history continues. Only one player in NBA history has finished a full season shooting 50 percent from the field, 50 percent from 3-point range and 90 percent from the foul line, and that was Steve Kerr for the Bulls in 1995-96. Korver is currently at 50 percent from the field, 51 percent from 3-point range and 90 percent from the line.
Minnesota Timberwolves: Kevin Garnett puts a Minnesota uniform on again Wednesday, when the Timberwolves play host to Washington. Wind chills in Minneapolis on Wednesday night are expected to be below zero, and be assured that no one lucky enough to have tickets to this one will be deterred.
Christine O'Connor
@christineeeeO
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