Are NBA Finals Always East Vs West?

18 January 2022

Western and Eastern teams face off against each other when playing the regular sessions but the teams also play an unbalanced number of matches against teams belonging to the same conference. When it comes to playoffs, the majority of the sports, counting in basketball, incorporate a single system for elimination in the tournament.

Now to answer the question – are NBA finals always east vs west? Yes, they have been following this format for a long time now. It has been twenty years since the NBA’s top 2 teams face each other in the finals. They have also stuck to the East vs. West format.

Format

The team that wins the annual trophy becomes the undisputed ruler of basketball. NBA playoffs take place between 16 best teams from all over North America – 8 teams from the East and 8 teams from the West.

How are the final teams decided?

There are 30 NBA teams out of which only 16 of them are chosen to play in the tournament while the other teams are sent back home. Then 16 teams are from different conferences namely east and west, 8-8 from each conference.

Each of the teams earns themselves a spot based on their performance in the playoff bracket which is called a seed. This determines which team faces against which team.

If you love NBA finals, you can watch the following video and find out why the Eastern Conference has been so good in 2021-22.

Why should this format be ditched?

The extreme difference between the Western and Eastern Conferences has been a highlight for a long time. Until the time comes when the gap between them starts to shrink it will be a hot topic.

Both the conferences compete with each other and then the winner is placed in the finals with the winner of the other conference. At the very basic level basketball is also just like a common sport. Just like any game, it is a competition between two competing teams where the top-tier teams get paired with the teams that are not that skilled. This pair-up creates a bad situation and it is an uneven match year after year.

It’s worth noticing that the probability of a 50-loss match appearance isn’t strong. The groups within the East will proceed to defeat each other, and with each misfortune between the Eastern Conference enemies, there’s definitely an advantage for the other side.

In any case, it’s worth expressing that essentially having this discourse embodies how shocking the Eastern Conference has ended up. Bleacher Report’s claim Joe Flynn breaks down on how this situation seems to play out, which brings to light how this theoretical circumstance might authentically turn into fruition.

Alternatives

So now the question to be addressed is are there any alternatives to this problem? You know nothing is going to happen if we only keep on shouting on this agenda. The people in charge should abolish the current finals format.

One thought that’s been examined within the past is contraction. Taking out the small-market, non-competitive establishments would permit middle-of-the-road groups to obtain playoff-caliber ability, and it would make fewer blowouts all through the customary season.

But then again the game is not only about the players but also about their fans. It would be unjust for the fans in Charlotte to lose their favorite team. In all honesty, putting a stop on a franchise is conceding that there is no hope of returning to relevancy. So without eliminating any of the teams a postseason structure should be considered. While the teams that are soiled in unremarkable-ness or worse can presently make the matches in the East whereas the periphery playoff groups out West are constrained to exiting early.

Conclusion

What we really require is a playoff framework that’s a daze to the two conferences. We require a 16-team competition at the conclusion of each season, and we require one that positions those teams in order of their performance. Admittedly, usage of this format won’t be as simple as it sounds. Plans must be changed, traveling will alter impressively, and it’s impossible that everyone included within the shift will concur upon a single arrangement.

But we can establish one thing that a change has to be made. Of course, changing an old tradition is not simple but the NCAA should decide what is the best move for all.