Is It Time To Change The NBA Playoffs?

Is It Time To Change The NBA Playoffs?

Long has the NBA playoff structure — in which the top eight teams from both the Western and Eastern conferences, respectively, make the postseason — been decried in basketball circles. Why? Simply because bad teams are getting in, and good teams are being left out.

Take last season. In the West, the Mavericks (49-33) just edged the Suns (48-34) for the eighth and final playoff slot. In the East, 48-34 would've gotten the Suns a 3-seed or 4-seed. Comparatively, the Hawks grabbed the last playoff spot in the East with a paltry 38-44 record.

Last year's results are nothing new. In eight of the last 10 years, sub-.500 teams have made the playoffs in the East. Basketball progressives have long thought an overhaul is needed, something new commissioner Adam Silver said this week is a real possibility.

HuffPost Live's Marc Lamont Hill hosted a roundtable discussion on the matter Friday, along with guests Robert Silverman (Daily Beast), Josh Martin (Bleacher Report), Jason Page (NBC Sports Radio) and author Paul Shirley. Check out the clip above for more.

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