New Divisions - Portland in Pacific?

[BballFanAddict]

Okay, so take the following with a huge grain of salt as the source is a post in the comments (by the Publisher of Hoopsworld) on Hoopsworld, but this guy is saying that the divisions will be re-done for next season and that PDX and LA will be in the same division.

"posted by Steve Kyler, 15 June 2009 3:01:17 PM
Oops, we may have neglected to mention the league is rearranging divisions this year... next year the jump to five divisions begins and Portland and LA will definitely be matched up together...
"

Has anyone else heard anything about this?

Portland so should be in the Pacific Division and Oklahoma needs to be out of the NW.

[JD45]

It makes a lot of sense.

I would be for it.

[ghills88]

that actually could be good for us, the current pacific is:

L.A. Lakers
Phoenix
Golden State
L.A. Clippers
Sacramento

So outside of LA that may be better than facing Utah, Denver, and two young teams that could improve in OKC and Minny. The divisions don't make that big a deal but still..

[Spykes]

There was some minor talk about re-doing the divisions last summer once the Sonics left Seattle, but nothing seemed concrete or close to happening.

It makes sense to fix the divisions tho. If you look at it geographically speaking, they don't make a ton of sense. Here's what it currently looks like for the NW Division...



The teams are just all over the map.

Here's how I think they should re-do the West...



Have the Pacific Division with Portland being grouped in with all the California teams. Have a Mid-West Division with Phx, Uta, Den, OKC and Min. Then keep the South-West Division as is.

[Wizenheimer]

it also might make some sense to move Phoenix into the SW division and Memphis into the mountain division

[The Sebastian Express]

it also might make some sense to move Phoenix into the SW division and Memphis into the mountain division

I agree with this.

[Spykes]

it also might make some sense to move Phoenix into the SW division and Memphis into the mountain division

Ya, that'd work too. Jazz, Nuggets, Minny, OKC, and Grizzlies in the Mountain Division. Then Phoenix, the Texas teams, and New Orleans in a Southern Division.

[BonziWellsPDX]

Would be ironic though to have any team from Oklahoma be considered in a "mountain" division. That state's flatter than my (insert inappropriate joke about friend's girlfriend).

[Wizenheimer]

Would be ironic though to have any team from Oklahoma be considered in a "mountain" division. That state's flatter than my (insert inappropriate joke about friend's girlfriend).

call it the midwest division or cold winter division then

[BlazersRizing]

not sure if i'd be up for this or not.

Warriors give the Blazers hell, and having to face L.A. 4 times is tough. then again the Queens are awful so I guess its not too bad... ehh idk.

but yeah the current divisions are all messed up location wise. lol

[Tim Lehrbach]

It'll probably happen eventually, might as well be next year.

[Red Robot]

The new divisions would shorten travel time to and from Portland. Oakland and Sacramento are closer than Salt Lake, LA is closer than Denver, and everywhere is closer than Minnesota. Long travel times probably play a part in the difference between the Blazers' home and road performance. I think a lot of what we perceive as home court advantage is just a product of playing in the most geographically isolated NBA city.

In terms of competition, the west coast division looks much easier than the mountains. Sure, there's the Lakers. But Sacramento is in arguably the worst roster situation in the league, the Warriors have made the playoffs one season of the last fifteen, and the clippers are hands down the worst franchise in the NBA. The up-and-coming teams of the current Northwest division look much better by comparison. I think this team is almost past the point where playoff seeding matters, though.

I wouldn't be surprised if realigment doesn't happen, though. The Blazers are the only team who benefits much.

[Spykes]

Warriors give the Blazers hell, and having to face L.A. 4 times is tough. then again the Queens are awful so I guess its not too bad... ehh idk.

No different than what we already have to do. Portland is pretty good at splitting the series with the Lakers in most seasons. Same with the Warriors. They give us problems in their house, but we usually take care of them in the RG. Kings are bad and the Clippers will forever be the Clippers. Kinda like what we have to deal with in regards to Denver, Utah, OKC and Minny. 2 teams we split with and 2 teams we roll.

[bob2]

posted by Steve Kyler, 15 June 2009 3:01:17 PM
Oops, we may have neglected to mention the league is rearranging divisions this year... next year the jump to five divisions begins and Portland and LA will definitely be matched up together...

I am quite sure, there will not be 5 divisions next year.
This would mean 6 teams per division and, more important, the conferences would disappear.

[deanwoof]

They should go back to the 2 Conferences/4 Divisions format with 15 teams on each Conference.

Pacific - Blazers, Lakers, Clippers, Kings, Warriors, Suns, Jazz (by default)
Midwest - Nuggets, Rockets, Mavs, Spurs, Thunder, Grizzlies, T-Wolves, Hornets
Mideast or whatever it was called - Bulls, Pacers, Pistons, Bucks, Cavs, Raptors, Hawks
Atlantic - Magic, Heat, Nets, Knicks, Celtics, Wizards, 76ers, Bobcats