2-3-2 vs. 2-2-1-1-1

One thought as we sit here a few hours from Game 5 of the NBA finals, with the Celtics holding a 3-1 lead -- the NBA went to the 2-3-2 format for the Finals (only) in 1985 in the name of reducing travel. The Celtics protested, both before and after they lost the finals to the Lakers that year in 6 games. (The Celtics were largely done in by their failure to win Game 2 at home earlier in the series, after performing the Memorial Day Massacre in Game 1).

The Celtics objected in the past (philosophically or otherwise) that Game 5 was of equal or greater significance than Game 6, and thus the higher-seeded team should host Games 5 and 7 instead of 6 and 7. Anyway, I find it interesting that the Celtics could win the Finals tonight in Game 5, but under the 2-3-2 format that game is in LA instead of Boston.

Bob Ryan wrote an article on this subject in 2005.

Just some idle speculation I wanted to throw out before tipoff. You never know...