NBA changes playoff seedings; division champs not assured of spot

In this April 29, 2014 file photo, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver holds a press conference in New York. Sporting goods giant Nike reached an eight-year deal June 10, 2015 to become the exclusive on-court apparel provider for the NBA. The contract takes effect in the 2017-2018 season, replacing a deal between the National Basketball Association and Adidas, which expires after the 2016-2017 season. “This partnership with Nike represents a new paradigm in the structure of our global merchandising business,” said Silver. AFP FILE PHOTO

There will be no more special consideration for Division Champions once the NBA Playoff start.

NBA’s Competition Committee made the move to base playoff seedings solely on win-loss records and Division Champions will no longer be assured of a top-four spot and home-court advantage come playoff time.

In a press release, the league said the NBA Board of Governors unanimously approved the change.

“The NBA Board of Governors unanimously approved changes to playoff seeding and qualification procedures effective with the 2015-16 season, the league announced today,” the league said in a statement, as per CBS Sports.

“As part of the modifications, the eight playoff teams in each conference will be seeded in order of their regular-season record. Most recently, every division winner was guaranteed a top four seed in its respective conference regardless of its record but did not receive home-court advantage if its playoff opponent had a better record.”

The NBA also changed its tie-break rule with head-to-head results as the basis for seeding if two teams had identical records in the regular season.

“The Board also approved changes to tiebreak criteria for playoff seeding and home-court advantage.  Head-to-head results have become the first criterion to break ties for playoff seeding and home-court advantage between two teams with identical regular-season records; the second criterion is whether a team won its division.  Under the old tiebreak system, a division winner was awarded the higher seed and received home-court advantage in a series if the two teams met in the playoffs.”

Teams can still commemorate their Division Titles with banners but a banner is all that remains as a prize for winning the division.