In the NBA, NHL, NFL, MLB and MLS playoffs, teams are given seeds (i.e., ranks) based on their regular-season performances, and brackets are formed by matching the top seeds versus the lowest seeds. For example, in each of the two conferences of the NBA, the first round match-ups are 1 vs 8, 2 vs 7, 3 vs 6 and 4 vs 5. The reason for implementing this system is that it rewards the teams that perform best in the regular season with an easier path to the finals.
Here is a simple proposal to improve this system. Before the every round, allow the top remaining seed to pick its opponent. Then, let the next highest remaining seed pick its opponent, and so on. The proposal would accomplish two things
(i) It would increase interest in (usually boring) first-round match-ups. Teams that have been selected to play the top-seeds would feel disrespected, possibly increasing their motivation to win. And a first-round upset would be even more exciting then at present, because the higher seed would have picked the opponent to which they lost.
(ii) The picking of opponents could be turned into television events, which leagues could use to generate additional profits.
The more I think about it, I have no idea why this system has yet to be implemented.
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