been arguing for your format for years, a return to what was, at one point during the late 70s into the early 80s until the division playoff format was adopted. without going on further, or at least trying not to go on too much,  the problem is, once leagues get so big, 30 teams and such, travel considerations and resulting playoff formats perhaps aiming to accommodate that in early rounds, it becomes untenable and, realistically, unfair and an unrealistic and whoever emerges as champion is sort of a paper champ. one could reasonably argue that, and I know it maybe sounds silly, yet it's true,  that there has never been a legit playoff champ in any North American sport because of this, faulty matchups, points systems which affect the seedings, etc. which is why the regular season should mean more, teams prove selves over long haul, yet NAmerican sports mentality denigrates the reg season. that's wrong.