This format really needs to be changed.

[Mulligan]

This antiquated format really needs to be changed. For the team that earned home-court with the best record, to be playing on the road in a closeout game 5 is insane. Now of course OKC could have won game 3 or four but regardless the system used in the conference finals makes much more sense.

In all probability Miami wins the series regardless, but OKC definitely earned the right to have this game on their home court.

That said, this Miami team has surprised me coming from behind in both the Indiana and Boston series. Definitely looks like they get the monkey off their back, and if so, they deserve it.

 

[TouchdownJesus]

I actually like the format but wouldn't mind it changed either.

Seems to me it is an advantage for the team with home court advantage. That team is "supposedly" better anyway...better overall record...so if they win their 2 games at home...your asking a team to beat a better team 3 times in a row or the series is all but over.

Like I say, I have no problem with them going to 2-2-1-1-1 in the Finals but I think you are mistaken as to who has the advantage. If Miami can steal one at OKC and then beat them 3x in a row at home.....they've definitely earned it.

Hopefully OKC can steal one back and make a series out of it. Seems like during the Bulls run they'd usually win 2 at home, steal one on the road and then close them out at home in Game 6. Would have to look up exactly how all the series went but I think they won all of them in 6 except for 1991 when they lost Game 1 and then won 4 in a row against the Lake Show.

Hard to believe that was 21 years ago......man.....

 

[DZ]

From wikipedia:

In the 1985 NBA Finals, the Lakers made amends for their previous eight losses to the Celtics by defeating them in six games. After losing the first game in a rout, 148?114, dubbed the "Memorial Day Massacre", they won 4 out of 5, including Game 6 in Boston Garden, to finally end the long years of frustration of failing to defeat the Celtics. These finals were the first to be played in the current 2?3?2 format, which Red Auerbach suggested to David Stern in order to cut back on the frequent traveling between Boston and Los Angeles.