Why Mark Cuban Wants To Expand The NBA Playoffs And Include 20 Teams

Mark Cuban
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The brain does funny things when it’s going through an ugly, messy breakup. It sends you through episodes of mania and depression, makes you test things differently, makes you more sensitive to those really sappy television shows. Sometimes, it even comes up with crazy ideas that you just can’t wait to share with everyone.

Mark Cuban just went through what was essentially a horrid breakup with DeAndre Jordan. And even though he said he’s fine, his latest suggestion to expand the playoffs might suggest he’s still struggling to get over it.

Cuban proposed to his fellow owners that the playoffs be expanded from eight teams per conference to 10. He explained his reasoning via CyberDust (by way of Tim MacMahon of ESPN):

“The increased number would reduce the chances of good teams missing the playoffs in the stronger conference.

“It would keep things interesting for fans longer into the season.

“Teams that suffered difficult injuries would increase their chances of recovering.”

A few thoughts on Cuban’s suggestion: While adding two more teams to the playoffs would mean more quality teams in the Western Conference playoffs, do we really want another round in the Eastern Conference? Eventually, the conference imbalance could even out, but until then, that would be another round of torturous blowouts.

As for keeping things interesting for fans, longer doesn’t necessarily mean better. Many have argued the most interesting league in North America is the NFL, since every game is tinged with a lot more meaning than the other — longer — professional sports. The 82-game NBA season is already a slog, and it’s unlikely adding more games, even postseason games, would really increase interest that much (if at all).

This seems like a suggestion just to suggest something. The NBA has far more pressing issues to address, such as injuries and a potential work stoppage in 2017. Rather than debate whether to tack on a few more mostly meaningless games to the postseason, the Association should give those issues precedence, and Mark Cuban should take a nap.

(ESPN)

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