For what seems like at least the 25th consecutive season, the East is embarrassing and is like a different tier of league in terms of competitive franchises.

A team can aim for the East play-in and not have to try very hard. Meanwhile you have a Lakers-Warriors classic over the weekend with legendary players and huge payrolls, and one may not make the playoffs because of geography?

Conferences should be banned. But assuming that is too drastic, maybe keep the 1-6 playoff seeds yet have one big play-in tournament across all conferences.

So if season ended today, you’d have top 6 teams lined up, where I apply a tiebreaker of payroll so the Suns are in the West #6 over the tax-dodging Pelicans.

Pelicans vs. Heat (winner faces lowest record playoff team)

Mavs vs. Magic (winner faces second lowest record playoff team)

Jazz vs. Rockets (winner faces loser of Mavs/Magic)

Lakers vs. Bulls (winner faces loser of Pels/Heat)

Most importantly, this removes the Atlanta Hawks from the play-in tournament as an unserious team. And hopefully for entertainment’s sake the Warriors would catch the Rockets.