Quote:
Originally Posted by ken0042
Except standings are not based on the number of teams that are below you. They are based on the top 4 teams. So as long as you have enough points for 4th; it doesn't matter if there are 3, 4, or even 5 teams worse than you.
Put in a crossover rule in case 5th in one division is better than 4th in the other; and this all goes away.
Back in the 80s and early 90s one division always had 6 teams. It just meant it had 2 really crappy teams instead of just one.
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The whole thing is that they wanted divisional rivalries in the playoffs again (at least in the earlier discussions) so they wouldn't do crossovers but I dunno why the teams going into the 8s would agree.
There are lots of scenarios based on divisional strength but on average the teams in the smaller divs are going to make the playoffs more often just based on simple math and probability. An "average" team will make the playoffs about 3 more times in a 20 year span in a 7 team division vs an 8. Given the $ associated with home playoffs dates maybe the will have to put in a crossover to get agreement.