Best-of-series vs. EuroLeague Final Four: Which is better? / News - Basketnews.com

BasketNews provides a look at the potential benefits and drawbacks of extending the EuroLeague playoffs to a best-of-series format until the very end.

Credit: Aspasia Velonaki, Panagiotis Moschandreou via Getty Images, Erikas Ovčarenko/BNS, Alfonso Cannavacciuolo/EuroLeague Basketball via Getty Images Credit Aspasia Velonaki, Panagiotis Moschandreou via Getty Images, Erikas Ovčarenko/BNS, Alfonso Cannavacciuolo/EuroLeague Basketball via Getty Images

The 2024 EuroLeague Playoffs were nothing short of spectacular. Three series went down to Game 5, with underdogs prevailing in two of them, marking the first such occurrence since 2011. This turn of events has reignited the debate surrounding the Final Four format.

3-pointers this season

40%11,5Points made:11,5Accuracy:39,6%Place in standings:1Record max:24Record min:5Most made 3FGs:Scottie WilbekinTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

Since its beginning in 2002, the Final Four has been a cornerstone of the modern EuroLeague. The concept is simple: four elite teams arrive in a certain European city and fight for the championship in a one-game showdown during the semis and finals.

Over the years, the Final Four has delivered countless unforgettable moments. It represents the pinnacle of the EuroLeague competition, drawing together the best teams, players, coaches, sponsors, media, and VIP guests to celebrate the season's culmination.

When it's done right, it's like basketball nirvana. Fans pack the arena, tension is through the roof, with every game a do-or-die thriller, and there's even a youth tournament where you spot future stars gracing the court. Plus, all those ceremonies and parties, both official and off the books.

But here's the thing: sometimes, it feels more like a gathering for the EuroLeague executives and their business partners rather than the teams and their die-hard supporters.

With that in mind, it prompts the question: wouldn't it make more sense to extend the playoffs right to the end and eliminate the Final Four altogether?

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