What an NBA version of the college football playoff system would look like

The College Football Playoff bracket was announced along with a few dozen bowl games on Sunday. There’s a real beauty in the College Football Playoff, despite its meager size (four teams): actual humans determine who gets in and how the seeds are handled. It’s similar to the human element in the NCAA Tournament, and it’s something American professional sports completely lacks.

What if the NBA picked which teams made the playoffs and seeded them not according to the raw standings, but through human decision? Imagine the NBA shrunk its playoff field to eight teams and the regular season standings weren’t the sole determinant in who got in. Imagine there was a panel of people who watched the NBA all season, met in secret, and unveiled the playoff field just before the postseason began.

It might look something like ...

Raptors (1) vs. Pistons (8)
Thunder (4) vs. Warriors (5)
Bucks (2) vs. Celtics (7)
Nuggets (3) vs. Clippers (6)

Of course, there isn’t much differential in strength of schedule in the NBA compared to college football, so we’re using net rating as a primary basis with win-loss record being a secondary determinant and the human factor nudging the Warriors ahead of the Clippers to make for a more compelling bracket.

The Sixers, Pacers, and Lakers would have major beef here. But hey, the Sixers-Lakers can go play each other in the NBA equivalent of the Rose Bowl. That’s another part of the beauty of college football: even if you don’t make the playoffs, your season isn’t quite over.

Suns 96, Lakers 120
Pelicans 119, Hornets 109
Jazz 100, Heat 102
Grizzlies 95, Sixers 103
Clippers 110, Mavericks 114
Blazers 118, Spurs 131

Thunder at Pistons, 7 p.m. ET, NBA TV
Nuggets at Raptors, 7:30 p.m. ET, League Pass
Rockets at Timberwolves, 8 p.m. ET, League Pass
Clippers at Pelicans, 8 p.m. ET, League Pass

See the full schedule.

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Team USA made the 2019 FIBA World Cup. Congratulations to Jeff Van Gundy and the assortment of players who participated. Argentina and Venezuela are also in from the Western Hemisphere. More on FIBA later on Monday.

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Be excellent to each other.