After the sixth-seeded Clippers got home-court advantage in the first round and a spot in the other half of the Western playoffs opposite Dallas and San Antonio, while the fifth-seeded Grizzlies had to go on the road in the first round against the Mavs, there was a lot of talk about the seeding format for the playoffs changing for next season, but I haven't heard anything about it happening yet.

What would the deadline be for that? It might not be until sometime during the season--I remember that during the 2002-03 season, the switch from a 5-game format to 7 for first round series was announced once the regular season had already been under way for a while.

I thought some change had been announced, but I can't find any reference for it at all.

Can someone please update me (or help me find the site) on the current seeding rules. Particularly in the second round. Are they using best records? Under the current standings (see below), I assume Maimi would play Washington in the first round. If Maimi beat Washington, would they play the Pistons in the second round?

FOX Sports - NBA - Standings

ESPN.com - NBA - NBA announces postseason seeding format change

The winner of 1 vs. 8 plays the winner of 4 vs. 5 in 2nd round

and

the winner of 2 vs. 7 plays the winner of 3 vs. 6 in 2nd round

__________________
Momma was queen of the mambo, Poppa was king of the congo, deep down in the jungle, I start banging my first bongo
Every monkey like to be, in my place instead of me, cause I'm the king of bongo baby, I'm the king of bongo bong
-Manu Chao

But now the best record has homecourt, not the highest seed, am I right?

Roscoe: Thanks for the information. They should probably call the new seeding rules "The Texas Rules".

They need to just have the east as one division. The top eight teams are in. Nobody cares about this division winner stuff anyways. Just follow the KISS principle. Keep It Simple Stupid.