NBA: League looking to shift Finals format to 2-2-1-1-1 - report

The NBA Competition Committee has unanimously voted to change the format of the NBA Finals from its current incarnation to a 2-2-1-1-1 format, according to sources, Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald reported, Sunday (Monday, PHL time).

Sources: Competition Committee votes unanimously to return NBA Finals to 2-2-1-1-1 format. Owners' approval to come.

— Steve Bulpett (@SteveBHoop) September 29, 2013

The league currently lets the team with homecourt advantage play two games in their arena first, before having three games on their opponents' turf, before finishing back at home.

The Competition Committee however sought to align the format with that of the earlier rounds of the Playoffs, which has the team with homecourt playing two, followed by the opponents, and then alternating until game seven.

The team owners will still need to vote to approve of the change.

NBA went to 2-3-2 Finals in '85 to cut long distance travel. But teams now fly charter, and 2-3-2 diminished homecourt adv.

— Steve Bulpett (@SteveBHoop) September 29, 2013

Bulpett adds that teams went to the 2-3-2 format starting with the 1985 NBA Finals to reduce the amount of long-distance travel. However, now that teams usually charter their own flights, as opposed to using commercial airlines, the committee felt that a change was needed, especially given that some felt that the 2-3-2 format diminished homecourt advantage. - AMD, GMA News