Top 16 records should advance to NBA playoffs

This year, more than any other, proves that in the NBA the top 16 teams, with the best records, should advance to the playoffs. However, it seems that a Western team could possibly have 48 or 49 wins and not make the playoffs, while an Eastern team could end the season with 37 or 38 wins and make the playoffs.

If the Golden State Warriors win 49 games they will not make the playoffs. They need to win their last two in order to make the 16 team field.

While 5 Eastern Conference teams: the Cleveland Cavaliers, Washington Wizards, Toronto Raptors, Philadelphia 76ers and the Atlanta Hawks will all finish with less than 49 wins, it seems unfair that the Golden State Warriors will have to spend the next few months in California.

The Portland Trail Blazers also have a legitimate argument in that while they are at .500 right now and will not make the playoffs the Atlanta Hawks are 6 games under .500 and have already secured their spot in the 2008 playoff race.

If the NBA did expel the current system and allow the top 16 teams to go to the playoffs than the match ups would most likely be more intense and a real champion would be crowned.

While the Western conference teams boast 10 teams at or above .500, the Eastern conference teams only have 7.

Just to make this argument interesting here is how the match ups would look if the top 16 teams would advance to the playoffs as of today:

1 seed Boston Celtics (65-16) vs. 16 seed Toronto Raptors (40-40)

2 seed Detroit Pistons (57-23) vs. 15 seed Portland Trail Blazers (40-40)

3 seed L.A. Lakers (56-25) vs. 14 seed Washington Wizards (42-38)

4 seed New Orleans Hornets (55-25) vs. 13 seed Cleveland Cavaliers (44-36)

5 seed Houston Rockets (54-26) vs. 12 seed Golden State Warriors (48-32)

6 seed San Antonio Spurs (54-26) vs. 11 seed Denver Nuggets (49-32)

7 seed Utah Jazz (53-27) vs. 10 seed Dallas Mavericks (50-31)

8 seed Phoenix Suns (53-27) vs. 9 seed Orlando Magic (50-30)

To see more about the NBA playoffs click the following links below:
www.sports.espn.go.com
www.nba.com