NBA change finals format

(The Sports Xchange) – The NBA Finals is returning to a 2-2-1-1-1 format in a change unanimously approved yesterday by the owners during their meetings in New York.

The league had used a 2-3-2 format for the Finals since 1985 mainly because of travel concerns, but this season the final three games of the championship series, if necessary, will alternate between cities.

Commissioner David Sterm announced the switch at his final Board of Governors meetings before he retires on Feb. 1 after 30 years on the job. He said it was unfair for the team with the better record to be on the road for three games.

Since the 1985 season, the team with the home-court advantage at the start of the NBA Finals is 21-8.

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Brendan Malone has resigned as an assistant coach on his son’s staff with the Sacramento Kings.

Mike Malone, starting his first year as the Kings’ head coach, hired his father in late June after he accepted the position. Chris Jent will take over as the lead assistant.

Malone joined his son after five seasons with the Orlando Magic working for coach Stan Van Gundy. He also was the first coach of the Toronto Raptors and head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers for 18 games, and he served as an assistant with the Detroit Pistons, New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers.

 

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Cleveland Cavaliers fans won’t have to worry about guard Kyrie Irving, forward Tristan Thompson, guard Dion Waiters and center Tyler Zeller players from going anywhere else any time soon.

The team announced Wednesday that it has exercised fourth-year options on Irving and Thompson, as well as third-year options on guard Dion Waiters and center Tyler Zeller.