A 16-team conference separates into four 4-team groups based on last season's finish. Then those 4 teams play each other and the top two records from each group advance to the 2nd round while the bottom two teams are "relegated". So now you have the top 8 teams in the conference grouped into groups of 4 and they play each other. While the bottom 8 are grouped together. Then the top two teams from the top two groups are grouped a final four team grouping to determine the conference champion.

I guess there would be danger in the final grouping of repeat matchups in the same season. But if they're the two best teams. Is something like this even possible? Or is it just a dumb idea I had?