New Playoff 1st Round System

NBA to expand first-round of playoffs to best-of-7 format
Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - The NBA will switch the first-round of the playoffs from a best-of-5 to a best-of-7 format beginning this year.

The players' union and the owners reached a tentative agreement through discussions during All-Star weekend. NBA Commissioner David Stern formally announced the rule change during his annual All-Star news conference Saturday night.

The new playoff pool, which is divided among all players on teams that qualify for the postseason, will raise from $8 million to $8.75 million this year. It will increase to $8.875 million next year and $9 million in 2004-05.

In order to accommodate the players, the league also made some adjustments to training camp. Training camps will be shortened over the next few years, including three days shorter for the upcoming 2003-04 season. An additional five days will be cut from next year's training camp as well.

The first-round had used a best-of-5 format since the 1984 season, with the final three rounds being a best-of-7 series. With the change, the NBA champion will now have to win 16 playoff games in order to claim the Larry O'Brien Trophy.

Stern also announced that Darko Milicic of Yugoslavia will be eligible for the 2003 draft. The 17-year-old Milicic has been projected as the No. 2 draft pick, just behind high school phenom LeBron James. Milicic will turn 18 in June.

Due to a change in draft eligibility rules, international players who declare for the draft the same year in which they turn 18 can be chosen by an NBA team. Previously a player had to be 18 before the draft application deadline, which is 45 days before the draft.

Stern has also been talking with Billy Hunter, the Executive Director of the league's Players Association, about extending the collective bargaining agreement that will expire after the 2004-05 season.

The commissioner also announced for the 2003-2004 season the league will open with two games in Japan. Stern also disclosed the league will play exhibition games in Spain, France, Mexico, Puerto Rico and China.

02/09 00:53:26 ET

I just received a new update on the subject, same as before but with few additions.

I think the Idea is bad, the possibilities for an upset get even harder now. But if the Mavs face the Lakers in the first round, Mavs would get their worst nightmare anyway.

Last edited by scubilete on Sun Feb 09, 2003 10:05 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I too think it's a bad idea, a decision merely to make more money rather than improve the sport. I also think they should have waited until next year to implement it, rather than adopt it for the 2003 Playoffs.

I know, I guess Stern doesn't like the idea of possible upsets, like this year with the Lakers & Mavs. That's the only reason besides the money that comes to my mind when the season already started, you are not supposed to make changes to it. It's like deciding to make the playoffs being the way the NFL playoffs are, with a pass for the best record team. But that's what you will find in Stern's head.

Definatley should have waited till next year to bring it in if at all. Teams are going to be screwed by the time the Finals come around. You are going to have to go for the sweep every round.

this is mystical how the players keep up to it!

c'mon guys could you play 82 regular season games + 16-28 play-off games [that's 98-110 games!], everytime giving all you've got

crazy SHlT!

Then they expect you on the first day of camp.

What a friggin' joke. The best-of-five format is fine as is - you don't need more games! It's just a way to make more loot.

I always hear sports fans complain about greedy athletes. Those fans should direct their anger to the guys at the top.

c'mon guys could you play 82 regular season games + 16-28 play-off games [that's 98-110 games!],

Gimme a break it's a possible 2 extra games, it doesn't make that big a difference.

everytime giving all you've got

They don't give it everything they've got everytime.

c'mon guys could you play 82 regular season games + 16-28 play-off games [that's 98-110 games!],

Gimme a break it's a possible 2 extra games, it doesn't make that big a difference.

everytime giving all you've got

They don't give it everything they've got everytime.

i don't mean the extra games, i was wondering how can they play every third or second night without gettin' tired, in a month like that i'd be dead-tired

an yes you're right they don't give everything they've got all the time...