A Good Time To Release Your Playoff Format

[Pounder]

...a month into the season.

http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3109227&l_id=64&t_id=

I think I'll let the content speak for itself.

Of course, it's how they get there...

[wncsport.com]

:shock:

Uhhh....


Seriously, why not just have the playoffs, 2 conferences, seeds 1-8?

While we're at it, if they're going to try something radical, why not a separate in-season tournament with all the teams (like they do in all the European soccer leagues) for a separate trophy??

It makes 100 times more sense than this...

[Sam Hill]

Hey, give them credit - this is the earliest they've ever announced a playoff format in the league's history.

And they always have to do some crazy b.s. in this league so they can think they're "revolutionary."

Hey, how about doing "revolutionary" stuff like paying the players and staff, trying to sell tickets, actually making teams show up for their games, and not lying your ass off about how many people watch your low power TV network?

[RMc]

Allow me to do a little fisking on that press release...

December 14, 2004 - Indianapolis, IN. Joe Newman, ABA co-Founder, today announced the format for the playoffs of the professional basketball league to begin in mid-March.

"Any teams still around at the end of the season will qualify, assuming there are at least two. If only one team is left, they will play a pickup game against all comers at the local junior high school. If no teams are left, the trophy goes to whoever gets to the league office first, assuming it hasn't been borded up and the locks changed."

According to Newman, "We looked at a variety of different models and felt that the sudden death approach used by both the NFL and the NCAA works very well for them and should work very well for us rather than the traditional best of five, best of seven approach."

"We can't get people to come to regular season games; you think they're going to come to just-announced playoff games when the home team is, say, trailing three games to none?"

Newman added, "Sixteen of the 35 teams will be included and will be seeded 1-16. The division winners and the runners up of each of the three divisions will be included along with the six next best overall records (regardless of division)."

Ah, I can see the "ABA Wild Card Standings" in the local paper now...not.

"Here's where it really gets innovative," stated Dick Tinkham, ABA co-Founder and Special Counsel. "In keeping with our out-of-the-box approach to things,

Dude, using phrases like "innovative" and "out-of-the-box" pretty much signals that you're a complete doofus. Here's a tip: don't confuse "innovation" with "acting utterly retarded".

we'll include the next four teams with the best point differential for the season. This means two things - four teams with poor records can make the playoffs if they are playing good, close games - and it means that every point in every game is important. The point differential could mean the difference between making the playoffs and not making the playoffs. Teams will play out the full games regardless of the win-loss because points count."

You've. Got. To. Be. Kidding. Point differential?!
This may well be the stupidest thing I've ever seen in any *ahem* professional sports league, ever; it makes the old CBA "Quarters Won" crap look like a model of simplicity. Who the hell is going to keep track of nonsense like this?
Ah, I can see the "ABA Point Differential Standings" in the local paper, too...if I'm living in Joe Newman's Magical Fairy Land, that is.

The opening games will be played at the venues of the six top seeds plus the two next best records. Second round games will be played at the venues of the highest seeded teams and so on until the final game.

"...or the games will be moved to Kansas City or something, with the hope attendances can break into triple figures."

Ricardo Richardson, ABA EVP

Extra Villified Person? Enormous Viper Puss? Excellent Valise Packer?

concluded, "On Jan 15th, Feb 1st, Feb 15th and Mar 1st, we'll post the playoff teams as they stand so that fans will know who is in contention for playoff spots as we head to the end of the season. It should be exciting. You can keep track on the ABA website."

"Richardson also concluded that he'd better keep that resume updated, and call the manager of the local Dairy Queen to see if there's an opening yet."

[toad8098]

Well, over the past week or so, four teams have folded - Cincinnati, Jacksonville, Chicago & Carolina. This brings the league down to 31 teams. I wonder if 16 teams will be around by mid-March. I'd expect Colorado, Calgary, Pennsylvania, Louisiana & Motown to all fold by the end of January(maybe more).

[toad8098]

At best I see anywhere between 20-25(my exact guess is 22) teams at the end of the ABA season. Based on that, 16 out of 22 teams will make the play-offs. Therefore if the play-offs were to start today, this would be the format:

(16)Tijuana @ (1)Utah
(15)Boston @ (2)Mississippi
(14)Los Angeles @ (3)Arkansas
(13)Fresno @ (4)Texas
(12)Kentucky @ (5)Nashville
(11)Portland @ (6)Long Beach
(10)Maryland @ (7)Orange County
(9)Harlem @ (8)Kansas City

Not making play-offs: Bellevue, Georgia, Hermosillo, Las Vegas, Ontario & Philadelphia.
Folded: Atlanta, Calgary, Visalia, Cincinnati, Motown, Chicago, Louisiana, St. Louis, Colorado, Jacksonville, Pennsylvania, Carolina & New Jersey.

[meyes]

Carolina hosted Nashville tonight and lost. That is quite an accomplishment for a team that has folded, wouldn't you say?

[Sam Hill]

Yeah! You tell 'em, meyes! Carolina's doing great!

Someone says a team has folded and you show them! They're not going to get away with stomping on the integrity of the ABA on your watch! ;)

[Houston Caldwell]

D--n, will you two BREAK IT UP?
As usual, both of you have some merit.
Yeah, Carolina got it together for one more HOME game. But in a league with its'act 100% together, Carolina would incur some penalty for the Little Rock no-show.
We have 2 January home dates against the Thunder that I am VERY nervous about (and if I'm nervous , imagine being Dan Bucher; this has to be driving him crazy).

[exit322]

Wow, this ABA really looks shady. I suppose you get what you "pay" for, in terms of quality.

[robster2001]

OK, let's play what-if with the current Power Playoff Sixteen (as of 12/27):

Ontario (16) at Utah (1)
Fresno (15) at Arkansas (2)
Portland (14) at Mississippi (3)
New Jersey (13) at Nashville (4)
Tijuana (12) at O.C. (5)
Kentucky (11) at Texas (6)
Maryland (10) at Kansas City (7)
Harlem (9) at Long Beach (8)

Not bad... all 8 games might wind up being forfeited to the home side when the visitors can't make the trip. OK, I exaggerate a little -- Ontario might try to get to Salt Lake... Portland might make the trip to Mississippi on principle (they've won so many home forfeits that they may just be pissed enough to go)... Tijuana might come up to the O.C.... but that's probably it.

The ABA, if there is any sanity left in Generalissimo Joe's office, will either regionalize the first round and then have a final four -- or go to a one-venue playoff with 8-12 teams.

Then again, the ABA already knows there is no Sanity Clause.