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How Much Tougher Would Miami Have It...

Stoked

Stoked

Well-Known Member
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2018 Award Winner
If you took Miami and placed them in the western playoffs how much tougher would it be for the defending champs?

If you place them by straight record they are tied with Houston and Portland by record. Let us be generous and say that the West broke down like this:

1 - Spurs
2 - Thunder
3 - Clippers
4 - Heat
5 - Rockets
6 - Blazers
7 - Warriors
8 - Grizzlies

That would be a 1st round agaisnt the Rockets as compared to the Bobcats
Then a 2nd round of Spurs/Grizzlies as compared to the Raptos/Nets
Then a WCF of Thunder/Clippers/Warriors/Blazers as compared to the Pacers/Bulls/Wizards/Hawks

How much of an edge does it give Miami (or any EC team in the finals) over teams like the Rockets (already out), Spurs, Clips and Thunder who all survived a grueling 7 game series and have a much tougher road?
 
Miami is the best team in the NBA. Probably gonna win the championship. I dont think it would matter if they were in the west. They have the best player in the NBA.
 
Hack said:
Miami is the best team in the NBA. Probably gonna win the championship. I dont think it would matter if they were in the west. They have the best player in the NBA.
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The have the best player but I am not so sure they have the best "team anymore". I think that is debatable.

Their road becomes much more difficult, and thereby the chance at failure becoems higher, when facing teams like the Rockets, Spurs and Thunder over the Bobcats, Nets and Wizards.
 
Stoked said:
The have the best player but I am not so sure they have the best "team anymore". I think that is debatable.

Their road becomes much more difficult, and thereby the chance at failure becoems higher, when facing teams like the Rockets, Spurs and Thunder over the Bobcats, Nets and Wizards.
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I think it makes sense to have the top 16 teams in the playoffs. As Adam Silver said, teams all fly by corporate jet, it isn't hard to go from coast to coast. I'd still have conference teams play four times, but mix it up the between the rest.

Obviously playing lower talented teams makes it much easier for Miami to get to the finals, and in fewer games. The extra rest and lack of wear and tear would make a huge difference.
 
JAZZGASM said:
I think it makes sense to have the top 16 teams in the playoffs. As Adam Silver said, teams all fly by corporate jet, it isn't hard to go from coast to coast. I'd still have conference teams play four times, but mix it up the between the rest.

Obviously playing lower talented teams makes it much easier for Miami to get to the finals, and in fewer games. The extra rest and lack of wear and tear would make a huge difference.
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Is there really any evidence that wear and tear really makes significant difference in championships? Supposedly in college football, the SEC champ suffers more wear and tear than the opponent, yet they win it all almost every year. The old Big East in college basketball, yet they had plenty of success in the Dance. The wear and tear thing seems to always be a talking point, but ultimately I think the best team usually just wins.

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seattlejazzfan said:
Is there really any evidence that wear and tear really makes significant difference in championships? Supposedly in college football, the SEC champ suffers more wear and tear than the opponent, yet they win it all almost every year. The old Big East in college basketball, yet they had plenty of success in the Dance. The wear and tear thing seems to always be a talking point, but ultimately I think the best team usually just wins.

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True. But a tougher road is just that a tougher road.

Also I think revenues would be higher with better matchups. Right?
 
Yes, the Western Conference is harder than the Eastern Conference. Pretty sure this has been established as fact for at least the last decade.
 
Stoked said:
True. But a tougher road is just that a tougher road.

Also I think revenues would be higher with better matchups. Right?
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Yes. I'm just referring to the wear and tear argument. It would definitely be harder to get there in the West.

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Its obvious to everyone (except mybe Cy) that the top 16 teams should get in and then seed em up based on record.
 
seattlejazzfan said:
Yes. I'm just referring to the wear and tear argument. It would definitely be harder to get there in the West.

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I think when you play a higher number of hard games there is some wear. I also think the effect is lessened at this level of play. But you want every little edge you can get.
 
Stoked said:
I think when you play a higher number of hard games there is some wear. I also think the effect is lessened at this level of play. But you want every little edge you can get.
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You say wear and tear, I counter with battle-tested.

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seattlejazzfan said:
You say wear and tear, I counter with battle-tested.

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It is very plausible. Just dislike the easier road the heat travel to get there. Wonder if they should reset the east west to playing your division 4 times and everyone else 2-3 times...more east/west games resulting in a harder season for the east. Also increases rivalries amoung division teams.
 
There would be some differences:
D-Wade couldn't take the first 82 games off
Over the playoffs less stomps for the Heat resulting in less rest between the rounds

If they'd still be the #1 under these conditions? Hard to tell!
 
Fabtrey said:
miami is still favorite to win in the west, but road will definitely be tougher.
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I'm not so sure. Epsecially since they wold be the 4th seed and not the first. I'd place Spurs and Thunder as just as favored.
 
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