Quote:I look at it the other way. The Kings were an 8 seed and managed to win the Stanley Cup that year. To me, that enhances the playoffs when you get the big time underdog to make a run and win it all.

 

 While I understand and respect the thought process of the playoffs being enhanced when a low seeded team goes on to win the Championship or closes close,  for my perspective the regular season being too devalued far outweighs the benefits of low seeded teams having major playoff success.  

 

 Even with a 7 team by conference playoff,  which the NFL appears headed towards in 2016 or soon after,   using the NBA Eastern Conference standings from 2015,  the 40-42 Boston Celtics would have made the playoffs.   And if the NFL eventually goes to an 8 team per conference playoff system,  which I believe will happen because of the inevitable complaints of some 1st seeded teams having an unfair advantage gained by being in a weaker division,  teams like the 8th seeded 38-44 Brooklyn Nets will get into the playoffs.   The same Brooklyn Nets team that lost games by 23 and 27 points in the last few days.  

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