I'd like to see a hard and fast rule that no sub-.500 division winner makes the playoffs if there's a team with a better record in the conference. I'd even think about saying regardless of conference, and same would go for WC. I thought it would have been a travesty had the Pats snuck into the playoffs at 8-9 and was rooting for Pittsburgh, tbh. Miami ended up winning to make that moot, and gave a good game. I think Pittsburgh playing in the NFC as the 7 seed (not 4) would have been an interesting twist.
I think you are essentially talking about what the NBA does. They still have the divisions but they don’t mean anything for the playoffs or seedings.
