This is my opinion, feel free to critique.

I feel that the NBA has oversaturated us with playoff games, from the Play In, to every series being 7 games long.

I realize this may be an unpopular opinion but I want the playoffs to have a higher barrier of entry, not a lower one. I want it to be special when my team makes the playoffs, not just a byproduct of having a mediocre season.

Also, 95% of the time, the 7 and 8 seed don’t do anything once they’re in (Shoutout ‘07 Warriors) and the 1/8 2/7 series are wastes of time for both, not to mention injury risk for the higher seeds.

So I would change it to 6 playoff teams from each conference, with the top 2 seeds getting a bye. Everyone else will play in a 5 game “Wild Card Series”.

Why 5 games? I think it adds to the craziness and allows for more upsets. In a 7 game series, the better team usually wins, but in 5 we would get more upsets. Isn’t that what makes sports great?

After that, the next round should also be 5 games, though you can convince me of 7. Then the conference and NBA finals continue as normal. I realize the NBA would lose $ from less playoff games, I’m coming at it from a purely entertainment perspective.

Feel free to critique and give your own changes!