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It's a good rule, simply because some divisions are stronger than others. However, if there's ever a year that a division winner doesn't fall into the top eight, then it will raise this simple question.

Why continue having divisions?

Still, that scenario is a ways off, and odds are every division winner will be good enough to be playoff bound. And on another level, teams should be seeded where they finished, that's agreed. Over an 82 game schedule, it can be frustrating to see someone seeded above you, despite worse record. The regular season in the NBA is a grind, and there has to be a reward at the end of the tunnel for everyone.

The Northwest Division could be very interesting in this vein. The Oklahoma City Thunder are expected to be a top three team in the west. The Utah Jazz are expected to be a conference upstart. But those could very well be the only two teams in the division that finish with an above .500 record. The Trailblazers have lost LaMarcus Aldridge and could take a giant step back. The Denver Nuggets are still rebuilding, and while the Minnesota Timberwolves are certainly up and coming, them making a big improvement this upcoming season is a question.