NBA Divisional Re-Alignment Proposal

Several basketball pundits, including Grantland's Zach Lowe have suggested the abolishment of the NBA's current divisions. This is in reaction to the recent collapse of the Nets and Knicks, and the ascension of the Toronto Raptors to the top of the NBA's Titanic (err... Atlantic) division. Additionally, the imbalance between the NBA's Eastern and Western Conferences have led to a desire for change in the way the league's 16 playoff teams are selected.

Perhaps this is the year, then, that the NBA will finally have to confront the reality that divisions are stupid and should be abolished. 

Grantland: Abolish (Useless) NBA Divisions: Step 1 of a Radical Plan

Here, I intend to present an idea that involves neither the destruction of the league's Eastern and Western Conference systems, nor the removal of the NBA's divisions. Rather, I believe the NBA should adopt a format similar to those of the NFL and MLB.

The league should keep the two conference/four divisions per conference system but rename them the NBC (National Basketball Conference - containing the NBC East, Central and West) and the ABC (American Basketball Conference - containing the ABC East, Central and West). Here's what the league could potentially look like:

American Basketball Conference (ABC)	National Basketball Conference (NBC)
ABC East	NBC East
Boston Celtics Charlotte Hornets New York Knicks Orlando Magic Toronto Raptors	Atlanta Hawks Brooklyn Nets Miami Heat Philadelphia 76ers Washington Wizards
ABC Central	NBC Central
Milwaukee Bucks Minnesota Timberwolves New Orleans Pelicans Oklahoma City Thunder San Antonio Spurs	Chicago Bulls Cleveland Cavaliers Detroit Pistons Indiana Pacers Memphis Grizzlies
ABC West	NBC West
Denver Nuggets Golden State Warriors Los Angeles Clippers Sacramento Kings Utah Jazz	Dallas Mavericks Houston Rockets Los Angeles Lakers Phoenix Suns Portland Trailblazers

This would drastically increase competitive balance within the NBA. Each division has at least one current contending team (with the exception of the ABC East, but considering the market sizes of three of those franchises that would not be a long-term issue), with both conferences each having their fair share of championship contenders.