Playoff Rosters Are 13-Man

[Fresh8]

NBA postseason rosters will expand to 13 this season, with teams deactivating one player before each game.

This will be the first time teams will be allowed to make changes during the playoffs. In the past, they had to stick with the same 12-man roster throughout the postseason.

The new rule was approved by the board of governors and announced Tuesday.

NBA spokesman Tim Frank said the change was made to give teams the same kind of roster room they had during the regular season. Under the new collective bargaining agreement, rosters were expanded to 15, with teams placing 12 players on the active list before each game.

"We should have some type of flexibility since teams have been able to do that the entire season," Frank said. "We just kind of felt like that was the best way to go."

Teams that qualify for the postseason will submit their 13-man roster by 3 p.m. EDT on April 20.

- That's good just in case an injury does occur... although I don't think 11th and 12th men get much time in the playoffs anyways but still a safetygaurd for teams.

[The_Flying_Tomato]

A) Good idea.
B) Bad idea.
C) Who cares? No/little effect whatsoever.

[BIG GREEN]

First good post you've ever made ^^^

[Andrew]

Fair enough I suppose, but considering how tight the playoff rotations are it might not make a difference for a lot of teams. Also, that 13th man probably isn't going to be a life saver if the team's most valuable player or a key role player goes down with injury.

[shadowgrin]

Might be helpful for teams that have rotations like the Grizzlies or Suns.

[Andrew]

True. Helpful, but not season-saving, bar a miracle.

[Pera]

13 players, i don't think that will take a real effect.

[Matt]

it's helpful if your laying against Shaq.....now Detroit has the possibility of throwing Wallace, Wallace, McDyess, Davis, Kato & Maxiell at the big guy. Exception of Maxiell, thew rest guard Shaq pretty well (based on this season McDyess is the best)

[shadowgrin]

Good point. More bodies to play against Duncan, Shaq, and other superstars.

[Andrew]

But the active roster is still only 12 players, so you're not necessarily getting that extra body each game with an additional six fouls. You have another big man to rotate in and out of the active roster but if one of them isn't all that effective in guarding Shaq, the advantage would seem minimal.

[benji]

Well, like the Lakers in 2004 who left Jamal Sampson off their playoff roster, then it came back to bite them when Malone went down in the Finals, now they can keep him on the inactive list for such a case.

[Andrew]

True. But I doubt Sampson would have been able to effectively replace Malone's contributions, likewise I doubt having that thirteenth man would compensate for the loss of a Ben or Rasheed Wallace.