Guest Lethargic Report post Posted February 8, 2003 Players, league agree to best-of-7 first round -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By Chad Ford ESPN Insider ATLANTA -- The NBA Players' Association ended an ongoing feud with the NBA on Saturday. But both sides may be on the verge of an even bigger war in the coming months. Two league sources told ESPN.com on Saturday that the union had agreed to expand the first round of the playoffs to a best-of-7 format. Until this season, the first round of the NBA playoffs had been a best-of-5 format. The changes are expected to go into effect this season. The move was called "unprecedented" by one union member who wished to go unnamed. "After years of fighting, we're finally talking to the league again," he said. "I think it's a big step in the right direction." The league is expected to make the official announcement tonight at a 6:40 p.m. news conference in Atlanta. The league gave up several concessions to the players in return. First, training camps will be shortened over the next few years. This fall, camps will be three days shorter. Next fall, an additional five days will be cut from the training camp schedule. The league also agreed to increase the amount players are paid for the playoffs. This year the pool will increase from $8 million dollars to $8.75 million. Next year, the pool will increase to $8.875 million. In 2005, the pool will go up to $9 million. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Human Fly Report post Posted February 8, 2003 The league knows the Lakers may not have home court in the first round this year and they want to make it as hard as possible to get rid of them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Lethargic Report post Posted February 8, 2003 Seems like to me that this completely ruins the chance of seeing the lower seeded teams pull off any upsets. Denver beat Seattle three times that year, I don't think they could've done it 4 times. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Choken One Report post Posted February 8, 2003 It should be 3-5-7-7 not 7-7-7-7 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest MaxPower27 Report post Posted February 8, 2003 Well the NBA playoffs should start soon if they want to be over by the usual time in June, considering it takes them a week and a half to play a best of 5. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Vern Gagne Report post Posted February 8, 2003 Since the 5 game series are spread out so much I don't see what the big difference would be. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest alkeiper Report post Posted February 9, 2003 I like this move. If you can't beat a team in 7 games, than you don't deserve to advance. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest kkktookmybabyaway Report post Posted February 9, 2003 When I heard on the radio a teaser about a change in the NBA playoffs, I was guessing this. The radio news guy said it was only going to happen for this year, but the article seems to say the best-of-7 first-round will be a mainstay. I guess it's better, although it's nice seeing a high-seed team sweat a 2-0 or 2-1 deficit... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Robfather 0 Report post Posted February 10, 2003 These kinds of changes should be made in the off season, not in the middle of it. God, can the league possibly be more pro-Lakers? Fuck you, David Stern! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Lethargic Report post Posted February 10, 2003 Since the 5 game series are spread out so much I don't see what the big difference would be. That's the thing I can't stand. The first round used to be over in a little over a week. Now those 5 games are spread out for an eternity. Remember just about 2 years ago, 4 first round games were played a night. 2 on TNT and 2 on TBS. Staggered at 30 minute intervals. If they continue to play only 1 east and 1 west game a night like they did last season, in a best of 7 series, the first round is going to take forever. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Vern Gagne Report post Posted February 10, 2003 If they did that than the playoff wouldn't be over until July. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Shanghai Kid 2003 Report post Posted February 10, 2003 Whats wrong with that? That's more basketball we get to watch. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Vern Gagne Report post Posted February 10, 2003 It would fine if teams scored some points, and there was actual offense in the league. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Lethargic Report post Posted February 10, 2003 Whats wrong with that? That's more basketball we get to watch. I wouldn't mind it at all if they stuck with the 4 games a night format, so it wouldn't take so long. Some of those first round series are just pointless to watch, I'd like to have a choice every night. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest notJames Report post Posted February 10, 2003 These kinds of changes should be made in the off season, not in the middle of it. God, can the league possibly be more pro-Lakers? Fuck you, David Stern! Nice to see politics and nepotism extend further than the hallowed halls of Titan Towers. I hope Shaq tears his quad. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Shanghai Kid 2003 Report post Posted February 10, 2003 True, but this year the first round matches are shaping up to be great. The West has a lot of Solid teams, and with the Lakers getting possibly a lower seed, they could face somebody like Dallas or Sacramento. Plus, everybody wants to see Jordan in the playoffs, and he might have to face New Jersey or Indiana. The playoffs will be very good this year, so the first round really does make a difference. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
