I've read about this a couple of days ago and I forgot to post it. This is a short little piece that mentions it.
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Here's a link
Published Tuesday, January 22, 2002
Best-of-7 in first round?
BY STEPHEN F. HOLDER
sholder@herald.com
CLEVELAND -- The Heat could have used an extra game in its playoff series against Charlotte last season as Miami was swept 3-0 in the best-of-5
first-round series. And if an alteration to the NBA playoff format is made as expected this week, there might be greater margin for error in the future.
HEAT NOTEBOOK
THE NEW YORK TIMES REPORTED THAT THE LEAGUE PLANS TO EXTEND THE CURRENT BEST-OF-5 FORMAT IN THE FIRST ROUND TO A BEST-OF-7, THE WINNER NEEDING FOUR VICTORIES TO ADVANCE.
Heat coach Pat Riley would be in favor of it.
``I think the best team in the conference that works all year long can get caught,'' Riley said. ``You lose one of the first games and you have all the pressure on you. I do believe that the best team in a seven-game series, regardless of a fluke game here and there, should probably win the series. I'm all for that rule.''