NEW YORK (AP) – NBA owners held their first serious discussions about the playoff format, though Commissioner Adam Silver said Friday it was too soon to tell if there was interest in changing it.
The playoffs will open Saturday without the Oklahoma City Thunder, who finished ninth in the Western Conference with a 45-37 record that would have made them the No. 6 seed in the weaker East. Two teams in the East field finished below .500, renewing calls to make the playoffs for the best 16 teams, instead of the current top eight in each conference.
Silver said owners reviewed data over about 30 years, while also considering the need for traditional rivalries born out of having divisions and conferences.
“When we presented all the data to the teams, what becomes clear is that there is no obvious solution,” Silver said.
“It’s not to say that we don’t think there should be a change. I think this is one of these issues that is going to require a fair amount of discussion and study, not just directly among the owners in the big room, with committees as well.”