The solution
When you have a problem, you need to formulate a solution which takes care of the probable causes of your problem. This is what Silver and the NBA are attempting to do with their new schedule proposition.
The NBA is currently in conversation with its league broadcast partners and the NBPA about how a revamped schedule might look in a new NBA.
The proposition is three-tiered: first, the NBA would look to shorten the regular season to 78 games. Then they’d look at a possible re-seeding of teams in what is now known as the conference finals, which would move teams around based on their regular season record, giving the chance for the league’s two best teams to make it into the Finals.
Along with that, the league is considering a play-in tournament, similar to the one used in the NCAA, where the seventh and eighth seeds would face each other, the ninth and 10th seeds would face each other and then the two winners would face each other to determine who had the higher seed in the playoffs.
Finally, the league is looking at implementing an in-season tournament. This would be a boost to teams standings, and would provide more opportunities for divisional rivals to face off.