I like the Idea if it similar to the "play in" they did in the NBA bubble.

If you are within x games of 4th you qualify for the play in.

Yeah I like it. You could have it similar to the NBA bubble one too where the lower ranked team needs to win 2, but the higher ranked team only needs to win one. Outside of the bubble that could mean the higher ranked team gets home court for the 1st game, and if the lower ranked team steals that, they earn the right to host the winner take all game 2

"In many recent seasons passed even 6th and 7th have been within a game or two of 4th place."

This was the case in the bubble too, but only the team who officially finished 9th had the right to challenge in a play in.

Yeah I'm on board with that.

I think they should do similar in the AFL- 8th vs 9th, or maybe 7th vs 10th AND 8th vs 9th. That would achieve three things:

- Avoid the lull, the in-between bye round on eve of finals - gives footy fans something to talk about, instead of a fortnight wait for the first final

- Give a genuine advantage to the top 6 teams (or top 7) who get the bye week off

- More buy in for clubs and fans of teams who would still be in the finals race, when they otherwise wouldnt be

In the NBL there's more difficulties with scheduling, as there's FIBA windows, shorter timeframes between games etc. But in principle I like the idea.

Doesn't really work though.
Assuming you're talking about a single game, you'd have to cram it in, before the winner (already behind the 8-ball) goes onto play #1. You've just made it that much harder to achieve an upset.

If you want to go with a final 5, I would suggest something like this:

Quarter Finals:
#1 = bye
#2 v 5
#3 v 4
lowest ranked loser is eliminated

Semi Finals:
#1 v remaining loser
Winner v Winner

Grand Final:
SF Winners play off

Keep it as a top four.

8 to 10 teams - top 4
11 to 13 teams - top 6 (1v6, 2v5, 3v4. 3 winners and highest loser into semis)
14 teams and higher - top 8 (traditional 1v8, 2v7, 3v6, 4v5)

Odd number of play off teams is stupid.

Is a top six any less stupid than a top five?

Top 6

QF
1 v 6
2 v 5
3 v 4

SF:
highest ranked winner plays highest ranked loser
other two winners play off
other two losers eliminated

GF:
SF winners play off

Only problem I have is that 6 from 10 lowers the bar a bit too much (and yes I know we've done worse.)

That's your only problem? Being able to lose twice and still advance isn't a problem?

^under the format I laid out, ONE team would be able to lose ONCE and still hang in.
In any series where the participants are not a power of 2, you need to have either that and/or teams getting a bye, to even up the numbers.

Lucky losers in a playoff campaign are ridiculous but somehow a staple in Australian leagues. No thanks.

KISS principle

Round 1
4 v 5 One game only

Round 2
1 v 4/5 best of 3
2 v 3 best of 3

Round Grand Final
Grand Final best of 3

^Problem with that is that you either have 4 teams sitting around waiting, or you cram that one game in, and then the winner is under the pump to get ready for the top team. You're just making it very hard to achieve an upset and make that series competitive.

Lucky losers in a playoff campaign are ridiculous but somehow a staple in Australian leagues. No thanks.

^under the format I laid out, ONE team would be able to lose ONCE and still hang in.

"Problem with that is that you either have 4 teams sitting around waiting, or you cram that one game in, and then the winner is under the pump to get ready for the top team. You're just making it very hard to achieve an upset and make that series competitive."

It's not AFL - one game isn't onerous for the NBL.

Usually you have staggered days for series, 1v4/5 would just be the second stagger.

If you're 4/5 and you get that initial win, maybe you enter with momentum?

I remember those days of 36ers playing elimination games, there's always so much more anxiety and tension for those types of games - it is awesome.

I remember both Ricky Grace and Andrew Gaze both going out for the last time in consecutive elimination games on away courts which felt a little unjust for both of them.

Gaze did at least get the home playoff win though.

True!