You can’t manufacture legitimacy. You earn it. And if the SLB wants to keep earning it, the play-off format has to change.
The regular season has had its moments—but they’re the exception, not the rule. With eight of the league’s nine teams qualifying for the play-offs and no real reward for finishing first, the structure undercuts the stakes. The run-in should build tension. Instead, it drifts toward May.
A six-team format would fix that. It would restore jeopardy, reward regular-season excellence, and give every phase of the season real meaning.
A Better Play-off Format
Under this structure, the top two teams would receive byes to the semi-finals, skipping the opening round entirely. Meanwhile, 3rd vs. 6th and 4th vs. 5th would meet in the quarter-finals.
It’s simple, competitive, and fair. It rewards sustained success without closing the door on lower-seeded teams who catch fire late.
Rewarding the Best Teams
Right now, finishing first gets you a piece of silverware—but no clearer path to the final. You still play a quarter-final. You could end up facing a team that barely made it in but found form at the right time.
With a revised format, the top two teams would gain real rewards—rest, prep time, and a clearer path to the final. The fight for first and second would mean more than just a trophy.
Adding Jeopardy Back into the League
When only one team misses the play-offs, the bottom of the table becomes a dead zone. A tighter format brings the fight to every tier:
- A race for top two and a semi-final bye
- Middle seeds jostling to avoid tougher match-ups
- And a fight for sixth just to stay alive
It’s not about making the play-offs smaller. It’s about making the stakes sharper.
The Right Change for Right Now
A six-team play-off structure is a better fit for a nine-team league. It sharpens the standings, gives weight to finishing positions, and ensures the run-in matters. It’s about making every phase of the season count—so wins in April feel as important as wins in November.
If the SLB wants to grow, it has to keep sharpening the product. This is a simple change. And it would make the league stronger tomorrow than it is today.
