HCA is besides the point. To base your theory and subsequently revenue distribution on the assumption that the home team always wins is incorrect to say the least.
Why don't we just gather all the money and share it equally among all teams, this way we make sure no one gets short changed.
It's crazy! God forbid #1 seed will earn more than don't-give-a-toss teams.
A few simple things to keep in mind:
- HCA gives you an advantage (that you earned).
- If you leverage that advantage and win, you earn a second payday in that first week - the team that loses doesn't.
- The net effect of the change is that you pay a regular week's salary and if you win the first game, you earn a regular week's income (50% times two games). If you don't win, you earn 50%.
If getting 50% instead of 33% is so overpowered for the 4th place team, feel free to tank enough games to get there. It'll cost you a whole lot more during the regular season, of course, plus cost you the next season in your fan survey, but if you truly are so obsessed about a difference of less than 40,000 per playoff game you have the power to make sure you don't make the same mistake again.