Is it time for the NBA to ditch East and West Conferences?
It’s been a sad state of affairs for the Eastern Conference over many years now, but with the current conference standings in the NBA, is it time to make a significant change?
Deputy Commissioner, Adam Silver, spoke during Sirius XM Radio’s new NBA channel on Monday and shared his views on the matter (via – USA Today).
“One thing I have learned from David [Stern] over all those years…is every day we should wake up and take a fresh look at everything we do. Divisions fall into that category,” said Silver, who will take over for Stern as NBA commissioner in February. “Historically, based on geography in terms of ways to schedule and convenience of travel, the goal was to enhance rivalries and I’m not sure if that’s still what’s happening.
“That’s something I’m sure I’m sure the competition committee, when they next meet, will be taking a fresh look at.”
Of course, there will be plenty who agree and similarly disagree with such notion.
Since the turn of the millennium, the West has been in charge, but with the idea out of Pandora’s box – is it the right time to make change with Silver stepping up to the main job?
Over the next few months, as the season progresses, we’ll revisit and track whether it would be for better or worse to scrap conferences and divisions.
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NBA 2013-2014 Conference Regular Season Standings (to date 11th December 2013)
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| W | L | PCT | GB | CONF | DIV | |||||
| Indiana | 19 | 3 | 0.864 | 0.0 | 13-1 | 4-1 | ||||
| Miami |
16 | 6 | 0.727 | 3.0 | 12-6 | 6-0 | ||||
| Atlanta |
11 | 11 | 0.500 | 8.0 | 8-5 | 2-3 | ||||
| Boston |
10 | 13 | 0.435 | 9.5 | 8-7 | 1-2 | ||||
| Charlotte |
10 | 11 | 0.476 | 8.5 | 9-7 | 0-3 | ||||
| Detroit |
10 | 12 | 0.455 | 9.0 | 9-5 | 3-2 | ||||
| Washington |
9 | 11 | 0.450 | 9.0 | 7-7 | 2-1 | ||||
| Chicago |
8 | 11 | 0.421 | 9.5 | 7-6 | 3-4 | ||||
| Cleveland | 8 | 13 | 0.381 | 10.5 | 5-10 | 1-3 | ||||
| Toronto | 7 | 13 | 0.350 | 11.0 | 4-7 | 2-1 | ||||
| Brooklyn | 7 | 14 | 0.333 | 11.5 | 4-7 | 2-1 | ||||
| Philadelphia | 7 | 15 | 0.318 | 12.0 | 6-8 | 0-1 | ||||
| Orlando | 6 | 15 | 0.286 | 12.5 | 4-9 | 1-4 | ||||
| New York | 5 | 15 | 0.250 | 13.0 | 5-8 | 1-1 | ||||
| Milwaukee | 5 | 16 | 0.238 | 13.5 | 5-13 | 2-3 | ||||
| W | L | PCT | GB | CONF | DIV | |||||
| Portland |
18 | 4 | 0.818 | 0.0 | 10-4 | 4-0 | ||||
| San Antonio |
16 | 4 | 0.800 | 1.0 | 8-3 | 3-1 | ||||
| Oklahoma City |
16 | 4 | 0.800 | 1.0 | 11-4 | 4-2 | ||||
| L.A. Clippers |
14 | 8 | 0.636 | 4.0 | 10-3 | 4-1 | ||||
| Houston |
15 | 7 | 0.682 | 3.0 | 8-6 | 3-1 | ||||
| Denver |
13 | 8 | 0.619 | 4.5 | 6-6 | 3-2 | ||||
| Dallas |
13 | 9 | 0.591 | 5.0 | 7-7 | 3-1 | ||||
| Phoenix |
12 | 9 | 0.571 | 5.5 | 9-7 | 1-2 | ||||
| Golden State | 12 | 10 | 0.545 | 6.0 | 9-9 | 3-2 | ||||
| Memphis | 10 | 10 | 0.500 | 7.0 | 6-7 | 0-5 | ||||
| Minnesota | 10 | 11 | 0.476 | 7.5 | 4-7 | 1-3 | ||||
| L.A. Lakers | 10 | 11 | 0.476 | 7.5 | 6-9 | 4-2 | ||||
| New Orleans | 9 | 10 | 0.474 | 7.5 | 3-8 | 1-2 | ||||
| Sacramento | 6 | 13 | 0.316 | 10.5 | 5-11 | 2-7 | ||||
| Utah | 4 | 19 | 0.174 | 14.5 | 3-14 | 0-5 | ||||
The notes we make here are based on the assumption of there being one merged conference, and highlighting who would or would not progress to any post-season playoffs of 16 teams.
Italics = who would progress based on the current system in place of conferences and divisions
Green = teams that would progress regardless of any change to the system
Blue = teams that would progress based on the idea of one merged conference
Red = teams that would NOT progress based on the idea of one merged conference
