[powderjunkie]

I should also add that 3v3 has now slightly bastardized individual point totals, though they suffer from the same games played and different annual scoring rates anyways.


The artificial parity thing is brutal. The other 3 leagues have all expanded their wildcard playoff formats in recent years to great success.

I was a little confused at first, but the NBA really nailed it in terms of maintaining the value of regular season standings while giving more fringe teams a bit of hope and a challenging path to the dance.

Each division:
3v4 winner is 3 seed, loser plays winner of 5v6 for 4 seed.

Spoiler!

For illustration, current standings int he east by pt%

1. FLA
2. TOR

3. TBL vs. 4 BOS; winner is 3 seed; loser hosts winner of: 5. DET vs. 6. BUF


1. CAR
2. NYR

3. WAS vs. 4 PIT; winner is 3 seed; loser hosts winner of 5. CBJ vs. 6. PHI


Under the current system, the race for the playoffs is pretty much already done in the East...it's just a matter of seeding.

While it's a little silly for BUF to still have a shot at the post season, this system would make every seed matter, and there would even be a race between BUF and OTT for that slot. CBJ/PHI/NJD/NYI would all still be competing for those 5/6 seeds.

Only downside is tempering the TDL, but smart GMs shouldn't change their plans much on wildcard hopes.

or each conference:
4v4 winner is in, loser plays winner of 5v5

or top 3 from each division are in and seed the next four highest pt totals in the conference:
7v8 winner is in, loser plays winner of 9v10

Spoiler!

To take that final scenario to the present standings in the west by pt%:

1. COL
2. NAS
3. MIN

1. VGK
2. CGY
3. ANA

STL (H) vs. DAL (A). Winner is in, loser hosts the winner of: WIN (H) vs. EDM (A)


Right now DAL/WIN/EDM/LAK are essentially tied (gp+4pts) with SJ 1 pt behind. Current system means those 5 teams are fighting for 1 spot (wouldn't be too hard for one team to pull away and the race is essentially dead). The above system would be 5 teams fighting for 3 spots, where seeding makes a huge difference.

It would also make the NAS/MIN/STL race a bit more interesting to guarantee a berth and a little rest.



The only challenging thing here is which division each wildcard winner goes into. STL .653 actually has a higher pt% than VGK .618 right now. COL should get the lowest qualifying pt% as an opponent, but it would also be nice to keep divisions if possible...if by some miracle EDM (or more likely LAK by tomorrow) made it through they should take the 4 seed in their own division.