The unfairness of the NBA's format for deciding playoff teams is beyond a joke.

It's so ridiculous you might even say it's ridicurous. Possible status upgrade to ridonkulous. It's stinks so much you have to say it stanks.

The 16 best teams will not occupy the 16 playoff berths.

Here are 16 reasons why the NBA can no longer retain this outdated shemozzle based on geographical divisions and needless conferences.

1. The Hornets (33-45, 0.423) have been woeful all season are still technically in contention for the Eastern Conference playoffs, while the Western Conference post-season will not include New Orleans or Oklahoma City who each have a 0.538 record of 42-36.

2. There will likely be three teams qualifying in the East with sub-500 records.

3. Portland (51-27) will likely have the sixth-best record in the West but are guaranteed the fourth seed because they're in the weak North-West division.

4. The Spurs, Grizzlies, Clippers or Rockets will get the sixth seed despite likely having a superior record to Portland and will unfairly be forced play the third seed.

5. The Heat (35-43, 0.449) are in contention for the East. The remaining fragments of their roster consist of an occasionally healthy Dwyane Wade jumpshot, Goran Dragic still learning his teammates' names and Hassan Whiteside treading the fine line between Hassanity and insanity.

6. Teams in the East can tank to jockey for preferable positions in their bracket. The Bulls lost to Orlando on Wednesday night. That has allowed Toronto into the third seed. Chicago wouldn't have to face Cleveland until the Eastern finals if they stay fourth. Convenient.

7. The Pacers (35-43, 0.449) are in contention for the East even though their biggest star is yet to log a collective 48 minutes of game time for the season.

8. Dallas' record would give them the third seed and home-court advantage in the first round if they were in the East against a team no stronger than Milwaukee. As it stands they'll finish seventh and be on the road against one of the best teams in the league.

9. The Nets (36-42, 0.462) are in the eighth seed in the East. Cool logos and a flashy arena can't hide the fact there's nothing exciting about this team.

10. Utah (36-42, 0.462) should be still in with a chance but they haven't even been a mathematical hope in many weeks because they're in the loaded West.

11. The Celtics (36-42, 0.462) are the seventh seed in the East despite being in a rebuilding season where they've traded away their two best players - Rajon Rondo & Jeff Green.

12. Phoenix (39-40, 0.494) have for the second season in a row defied expectations but still won't sniff the playoffs.

13. The Bucks (36-42, 0.462) are sixth in the East despite losing their gun rookie Jabari Parker to injury mid-season and playing terribly since trading polished point guard Brandon Knight for rough prospect Michael Carter-Williams.

14. Teams in the East could potentially rest their stars during first-round playoff series. Teams in the West won't be able to rest for a second.

15. There will not be one interesting first-round series in the East. The only potential close contest will be the 4 v 5 clash between Toronto or Chicago against Washington.

16. The system is fundamentally unfair. If the regular season ended today. This should be the playoff schedule - 1 Warriors v 16 Bucks; 2 Hawks v 15 Suns; 3 Grizzlies v 14 Thunder; 4 Rockets v 13 Pelicans; 5 Clippers v 12 Wizards; 6 Spurs v 11 Bulls; 7 Cavaliers v 10 Raptors; 8 Trail Blazers v 9 Mavericks.