Is the 2-3-2 format an advantage for the team without homecourt?

[All Net]

Lets face it if the team without homecourt splits the first two games then the team with HCA having to play on the road for 3 straight games is quite daunting. Chances are the team with 3 home games wins 2 out of 3 which puts them one win from the title... And the pressure jumps back to the team with two home games... As last season showed.

If it is spurs or thunder vs Miami in the finals... Does it favour miami?

[Big#50]

It should be 2-2-1-2 in every series. Just like the finals.

[Rnbizzle]

I think it is actually.

[Collie]

Originally Posted by Big#50

It should be 2-2-1-2 in every series. Just like the finals.

What the heck is that format lol? 2 away, 2 home 1 away 2 home?

[rmt]

It's a big advantage to the team with home court advantage as it's extremely difficult to win 3 straight times against any team at that level. 2-2-1-1-1 is the fairest but because of travel - not feasible.

[dunksby]

Well any team who wins on the opponent's turf is gonna get the advantage, it does not have anything to do with the format strictly.

[Kurosawa0]

If you split the first two games, then it becomes a massive advantage. It forces the team with home court to get 2 of 3 on the road to not face elimination in game 6.

[Mechanixxxx]

Originally Posted by Kurosawa0

If you split the first two games, then it becomes a massive advantage. It forces the team with home court to get 2 of 3 on the road to not face elimination in game 6.

Lakers did it on 2010, and they lost 2 games at Boston. Every year around this time I hear people, both on and off ISH asking the same question. The answer is NO, the team with home court advantage has the psychological edge because the other team has the pressure of winning at least 2 games at home on that 3 game home stand. Even if the team with HCA drops 1 of 2, they still only have to win 1 game to go back home with a chance to win at game 7.

[obonpaxis]

So is there a reason WHY it's different for the Finals? I've always wondered about that.

[Kurosawa0]

Originally Posted by Mechanixxxx

Lakers did it on 2010, and they lost 2 games at Boston. Every year around this time I hear people, both on and off ISH asking the same question. The answer is NO, the team with home court advantage has the psychological edge because the other team has the pressure of winning at least 2 games at home on that 3 game home stand. Even if the team with HCA drops 1 of 2, they still only have to win 1 game to go back home with a chance to win at game 7.

And Miami couldn't do that. That three game string is a big advantage if you split the first two. Miami in 06 used those three games to completely change the series. It's nice to talk about game seven, but there's only been three game sevens in 20 years.

Believe me, Dallas fans were just fine having three games at home after game two of the Finals last year. It is an advantage.

[Kurosawa0]

Originally Posted by obonpaxis

So is there a reason WHY it's different for the Finals? I've always wondered about that.

Travel for the media and the teams. If you have the 2-2-1-1-1 format and the series is between the Lakers and Celtics, that's a brutal travel schedule.

[bagelred]

2 - 3 - 2 is as even as you can make it. Everyone thinks the team with Game 7 has advantage....but not necessarily. Each team is guaranteed 2 games at home, at the beginning. But Game 5 is more of a guaranteed game. So that brings advantage to the "3" team, if its only 5 game series.

2-2-1-1-1 is clearly advantage to the first team because they always have the more guaranteed games at home....if that makes sense.


Did anyone follow what I just wrote?

I think the NBA does it right. The playoffs should be 2-2-1-1-1, giving a clear advantage to the better seed. They've earned that through 82 games. HOWEVER, Finals should be 2-3-2 since you want to make the Finals matchup as even as possible.

[ILLsmak]

I think it's an advantage for the away team. How many series go 7? It's rare. If it goes to 7 then yeah it's advantage home.

But in every other case, it's advantage away.

Assuming it's 3-2 going back to the other team's home, yeah they get two home games, but they are also on the brink of elimination.

-Smak

[BuGzBuNNy]

I think so, it puts way to much pressure on the higher seed to take care of both home games. The thought of going away for three straight games after dropping one is a nightmare.

I agree that it should be 2-2-1-2

EDIT: 2-2-1-1-1

[Kurosawa0]

Originally Posted by BuGzBuNNy

I agree that it should be 2-2-1-2

How would that work?