Comments on: NBA the real benefactor of 2-3-2 http://www.pistonpowered.com/2009/06/nba-the-real-benefactor-of-2-3-2/ Your Go-To Source For Pistons Coverage Thu, 09 Sep 2010 06:09:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Dan Feldman http://www.pistonpowered.com/2009/06/nba-the-real-benefactor-of-2-3-2/comment-page-1/#comment-799 Dan Feldman Wed, 17 Jun 2009 20:00:27 +0000 http://www.pistonpowered.com/?p=1781#comment-799 I don't think it's really a factor. In either system, the favorite has three home games before Game 7, and the underdog has three home games before Game 7. I don't think the difference in order really matters as far as getting to a Game 7. I don’t think it’s really a factor. In either system, the favorite has three home games before Game 7, and the underdog has three home games before Game 7. I don’t think the difference in order really matters as far as getting to a Game 7.

]]> By: Jonathan http://www.pistonpowered.com/2009/06/nba-the-real-benefactor-of-2-3-2/comment-page-1/#comment-797 Jonathan Wed, 17 Jun 2009 07:40:48 +0000 http://www.pistonpowered.com/?p=1781#comment-797 Perhaps this was part of their reasoning, but do you think the 2-3-2 format also makes Finals game 7s--something that appeals to the narrative of sports and draw high ratings--less likely? Since the format change the only series to go 7 were in 1988, 1994 and 2005--3 in 25, or 12% of the time. Before the change 13 in 37 NBA Finals went to game 7--35% of the time. Game 7s are usually forced by the home team winning a game 6, but the 2-3-2 format rarely allows for a team with home court advantage to be playing at home in game 6 down 2-3. This is because (a) they are (record wise, at least) the better team, and thus are less likely to be behind in the series and (b) for that to happen the team without home court advantage really needs to upset the other in game 1 or 2, or win its 3 straight home games--something done only twice since the format was introduced. Perhaps this was part of their reasoning, but do you think the 2-3-2 format also makes Finals game 7s–something that appeals to the narrative of sports and draw high ratings–less likely?

Since the format change the only series to go 7 were in 1988, 1994 and 2005–3 in 25, or 12% of the time. Before the change 13 in 37 NBA Finals went to game 7–35% of the time.

Game 7s are usually forced by the home team winning a game 6, but the 2-3-2 format rarely allows for a team with home court advantage to be playing at home in game 6 down 2-3. This is because (a) they are (record wise, at least) the better team, and thus are less likely to be behind in the series and (b) for that to happen the team without home court advantage really needs to upset the other in game 1 or 2, or win its 3 straight home games–something done only twice since the format was introduced.

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