Fans and media alike have complained the NBA playoffs are too long. They are right, and one solution is to make the 1st round of the playoffs a best of 5 games series, instead of a best of 7.
The 1st round was a best of 5 for a long time, and only at the turn of the century, did the NBA change it to a best of 7.
The only reason they changed to a longer series is money. More games in the playoffs for qualifying teams makes those teams a lot more money in revenue.
The best of 7 series format allows each team in a series to have a minimum of 2 playoff games, in a best of 5, the lower seeded team is only guaranteed 1.
But even with the higher revenue, the series become more boring with the best of 7 format.
The 1st round series are between teams where one that is usually far greater than the other. There are not many great series in the first round, on an all time historic level. Other than the Celtics vs. Bulls series from the 2009 playoffs, 1st round series hardly give us excitement.
Shorten the 1st round, and the possibility for more exciting series’ and a shorter postseason will make the NBA playoffs better.
