There has been some talk lately of the National Basketball Association expanding by two more teams, bringing the total to 32. The league would then possibly split into 8 divisions, with 4 teams each, just like the NFL has done. There are several cities listed as potential expansion candidates, but if I was commissioner of the NBA, I would give one back to Seattle and the other would go to Kansas City. My alternate expansion city would be Louisville. Here is how the divisions would set up:

Alternate set up for the mainly western and central teams. It would condense things more by having 8 teams all west of the Rockies in two divisions, but the California teams would be split up.

Each team plays the 3 other teams in its division 4 times = 12 games

Each team plays the 28 other teams in the league 2 times = 56 games

This would create a 68 game regular season schedule. If that is too little, each division could play 5 times for 72 games total, or 6 times for 76 total games.

Each division champion would qualify for the playoffs, and the other 8 teams would be those with the best overall records.

The teams with the overall best records would be seeded #1 - #16. However, a mini playoff (best of three?) could be played at the end of the regular season, with the #17 - #20 seeds challenging the #13 - #16 seeds for final seeding. This would encourage teams to finish in the Top 12 and avoid the mini playoff.

Home court advantage in all rounds would be given to the team with the best record. The opening round would be a best of five series, while all remaining rounds through the Finals would be best of seven.

I favor this plan for the following reasons:

1. It eliminates the East/West Conferences, and creates geographically sensible divisions.

2. Divisional rivalries will be encouraged and/or created.

3. Division winners will be rewarded, but so will teams that performed well but didn't win their division.

4. Each team will get to see all of the other teams at least twice a season in order for their fans to see all players from around the league.

There has been some talk of having an early-season or mid-season tournament. After thinking about this, here is the plan I would do. After the Super Bowl ends in February, there is a dead zone in the sports world that doesn't really pick up until March Madness begins. I would hold a Mid-Season Tournament at this time. In early February, all teams would be seeded #1 - #32 based on their current record. I would begin the tournament on the Saturday after the Super Bowl, and here is how I would set it up:

Saturday - 4 games

Sunday - 4 games

Monday - 4 games

Tuesday - 4 games

We would then be down to 16 teams. Wednesday would be an off day.

Thursday - 2 games

Friday - 2 games

Saturday - 2 games

Sunday - 2 games

We would then be down to "The Great Eight".

The first two rounds would all be held in the home arenas of the higher seeded teams. For "The Great Eight", a pre-determined site would be chosen. I would choose cities like Las Vegas, Vancouver, St. Louis, Louisville, Tampa, etc. that don't have NBA teams, but could hold a tournament.

Tuesday/Wednesday - Play 2 Games Each Night - The Quarterfinals

Friday - Play 2 Games - The Semi Finals

Sunday - Play the Championship - The Final

The winning team could claim "The NBA Cup", or some other interesting trophy. Winning players could receive a bonus payment, and the teams who advanced to at least "The Great Eight" would claim bonus payments as well.