Why The NBA Needs To Start Rigging Its Games Like The NHL

I found out today that the NBA playoff seeding is set, and one of the first round match-ups pits the New York Knicks against the Boston Celtics. 

The rivalry between New York and Boston is the best in most other sports (Jets-Pats, Yanks-Sox) so I can assume that the same can be said about the NBA. The problem I have with this first round match-up is that not only will one of these teams not be moving to the second round, but there is a lot less on the line right now.

Had these teams met in the Eastern Conference Finals, or even the second-round, I would have been much more interested in the series. Instead I find myself upset that there is no chance both the Knicks and Celtics will make it to the final four in the East.

I understand there are really five big teams in the east (Knicks, Celtics, Bulls, Heat, Magic), but I would much rather see the Bulls or Magic playing the Knicks instead of the Celtics.

The NBA needs to take a page out of the NHL's book and rig the seeding. How else do you think the reigning Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks sneaked in at the last second?

I wasn't planning on watching much of the first round of the NBA playoffs anyway, the NHL ones are much better, but I have even less of an incentive to watch the NBA playoffs as they get deeper knowing that either the Knicks or Celtics will be gone.