Starting this season the NBA Playoffs will be seeded solely by record, thanks to a unanimous vote today by the league's Board of Governors. Previously division winners had a protected spot in the top four, now they'll be placed anywhere from one to eight based upon wins and losses. If you're thinking that that means winning your division just lost its meaning, you're correct. For example, last season the Portland Trail Blazers claimed the No. 4 seed in the West despite having the conference's sixth best record.
Tiebreakers in seeding will also be changed. Previously tiebreakers/home-court were given to a team that had won their division. Now postseason seeding will be decided by who won more games in head-to-head match-ups.
While it may not be the much desired (and talked about) playoff scenario that puts the top 16 teams regardless of conference into the playoffs, it may signify a step in that direction because, obviously, the league is willing to switch things up.
[via Fox Sports]
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