(10-28-2023 11:00 AM)Erictelevision Wrote: BP: that’s the alignment I predict as well. When I build a schedule, it’s 76 games (2x h/h in division, h/h v everyone else). How much would an owner lose by losing 3 home games?
Don't forget the NBA Cup tournament with the accompanying extra games for teams than don't qualify for the knockout stage.
With only four divisions, I think you see the East/West crossover games cut back to 28. Play your 15 conference mates 3 times each, and an extra game against your 7 division rivals for 52 games in conference and a total of 80 overall. The group stage would be entirely within your division and come out of that block of games. The two extra games for teams that do not make the knockout stage would be non-conference games, which could be used to mitigate most of the asymmetry, i.e., if possible you play two of the four opponents you were not already scheduled to face twice.
I am keeping the Atlantic and Central Divisions the same except for Minnesota, Atlanta, and Charlotte joining the Central; and Orlando, Miami, and Washington join the Atlantic. Portland and the two expansion teams join the Pacific, while the Northwest and Southwest divisions merge as the Southwest.
Based on the 2022-23 NBA Standings, these would be the groups for the NBA Cup.
Pacific 1 - Sacramento, Golden State, LA Lakers, Seattle/Vegas
Pacific 2 - Phoenix, LA Clippers, Portland, Seattle/Vegas
Southwest 1 - Denver, Oklahoma City, Dallas, San Antonio
Southwest 2 - Memphis, New Orleans, Utah, Houston
Central 1 - Milwaukee, Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit
Central 2 - Cleveland, Minnesota, Indiana, Charlotte
Atlantic 1 - Boston, Brooklyn, Miami, Orlando
Atlantic 2 - Philadelphia, New York, Toronto, Washington