The NBA recently adopted a playoff format in which 10 teams from each conference make the playoffs. However, only the top 6 automatically qualify for the playoff series. Teams 7 - 10 play each other in elimination playoff games. 7 and 8 play a single game, and the winner is awarded the 7 seed. 9 and 10 play a single elimination game, after the which the loser is eliminated, and the winner plays the loser of the 7-8 game for the 8 seed.
This reminds me of what the IPL cricket league uses for its playoffs. Teams 1 and 2 play each other with the winner going straight to the championship game. 3 and 4 play, with the loser goes home, and the winner plays the loser of the 1-2 game for the other championship game slot.
Where did this format originate?
McIntyre System
Developed by Ken McIntyre for the VFL in 1931.
The McIntyre finals system is ubiquitous throughout the Australian sporting landscape across in almost all codes and regions.
Some of the professional codes now have finals series of more than the original 4 eg AFL and NRL now have 8. The key difference in to larger formats is that there are now two preliminary finals with the two winners playing the grand final the next week which eliminates the effect of one team having a bye in the week prior which was a rolling cause of angst as to whether it was an advantage or disadvantage.
Thanks. Well thank you Mr. McIntyre. Brilliant idea.
What makes it so logical is that, if you don’t finish top, you have to beat all the other sides that finished above you - you can’t get lucky by having some mother team beat your ‘bogey’ side.
It was expanded to a final 5, and the same idea prevailed. If you didn’t finish top, you had to beat every side above you. If you did finish top, you had to win at least 2 games - one of which was the team that finished 2nd.
Some curling tournaments used to be done this way, and I never cared for it. The top 4 teams would make it to a playoff round. It’s possible for the top two teams to face each other twice in the playoffs, each team wins once, but the team that lost the first game and won the second wins the tournament.
It’s a bit more fair as described in the OP, narrowing four teams to two to fill in the last two playoff berths.