One of the many exciting changes for season 2020 in the Sal's NBL will be the return of higher-placed teams having home court advantage in finals.
The days of a Final 4 being held at one venue appear to be over.
And while next season will see the finals contested between four teams once again, there is a push by the league to move to a Final 5 system in 2021 when the competition expands to 9 or 10 teams.
The 2020 finals will played over two weeks with the higher-placed team hosting each final on their home court.
The opening week Semi-Finals will see the 1st placed team host the 4th placed team, while the 2nd placed team will welcome the 3rd placed team.
The two winners will move through to the Grand Final with the highest-placed winner hosting the season's biggest game.
"It's important the fans get to see their team playing on their home court when it comes to finals, that's the way sport should be," said General Manager Justin Nelson, adding "It's the fans who get along every week to support their team, so they should have the same opportunity come finals time if their team has qualified and earned the right to host a final."
Though the Grand Final will continue to be a one game, winner-take-all showdown in 2020, a move to a best-of-three series to decide the annual championship winner hasn't been written off.
"The teams talk about it all the time, there is clearly a desire for it to be looked at and considered," said Nelson of an expanded Grand Final series.
"The finals structure is set for 2020, the home court aspect is an exciting inclusion, but things like a final five and a best-of-three Grand Final series are certainly being discussed for the future."
The Sal's NBL 2020 tips-off over the Easter weekend next April.
