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Daily Debate: New format for D-League playoffs a gimmick - and sloppy

BY MIKE PRATER - mprater@idahostatesman.com

Published: 03/12/09


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The NBA Development League needs all the attention it can get, but ... announcing a playoff format one month before the end of the regular season and then turning that format into a gimmick modeled after European soccer?

Who needs that kind of attention?

The league, including your Idaho Stampede, announced the new format Monday (even though the rules were decided last offseason).

Eight teams make the playoffs. The three division champions get to pick their first-round opponents (from the No. 5 through No. 8 seeds). First and second rounds are one-game-and-done. The finals will be a best-of-three series.

Repeat: Division champs get to pick their first opponent, or roughly the equivalent of the ugly, no-talent kid at the end of the bench. Can you imagine the motivation that team will have for a one-game series where anything can happen?

I get the one-game series thing. This league - heck, the entire NBA - is struggling to pay the bills and who wants to fly back and forth from Boise to Erie? But this format also means that some playoff teams won't even get a home game, where some money can be made.

Idaho managing investor Bill Ilett, whose team leads the West Division, would favor picking a playoff team from his division (i.e., saving money).

Good for him.

Coach Bryan Gates wants to pick marbles out of a hat. And he wants to put the event on a Web cam so everyone knows what he's doing (i.e., not providing motivation for the ugly kid).

Good for him. Bad for the league.

Contact Idaho Statesman sports editor Mike Prater at mprater@idahostatesman.com.

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