By Jordan Long
The NBA will have a play-in tournament for both conferences to determine the last two seeds for the postseason. This will take place May 18th ending on May 21st. The regular NBA playoffs start May 22nd . The NBA play-in tournament has been criticized by both owners and players.
Last year, the NBA used a play-in for the 8th seed since the league was stopped for the COVID-19 Pandemic. When they went to the bubble, they agreed to a play-in tournament if teams were within 4 games of the 8th seed because the standings were so close. If not the 8th gets the playoff spot but if the 9th team was within 4 games, they would face the 8th seed. It wasn’t much of a play-in because the 8th seed had to beat the 9th seed once but the 9th seed had to win two in a row to earn a playoff spot. The league decided to keep the play-in but with different rules.
This year the play-in is different. In both conferences, 1 through 6 automatically go to the 1st-round. Teams that are seeded 7 through 10 are placed in the play-in. There are 3 games. Game 1 will be 7 hosting 8. The winner earns a playoff spot while the loser will have another chance in game 3. In game 2, 9th team will face the 10th team in the standings. Whoever ends up victorious will move on to game 3 which is the loser of the 7 vs 8 seed. The team that doesn’t win game 2 or game 3 is in the draft lottery. The team that wins the 3rd game is in the postseason.
If play were to stop right now, in the West the play-in tournament teams include the L.A. Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, Golden State Warriors, and the San Antonio Spurs. In the East the Boston Celtics, Charlotte Hornets, Indiana Pacers, and Washington Wizards would all be in it. Of course, this could change depending on what happens the rest of the season.
Lakers’ star Lebron James ripped the play-in tournament. According to USAtoday.com, James said, “Whoever came up with that (expletive) needs to be fired.”
There are two ways to look at it. The first, adding the 9th and 10th seed gives the NBA two more teams who are on the outside an opportunity to earn a playoff spot. In most seasons that doesn’t happen. The 7th and 8th seeds must earn it. For the 7th and 8th place teams it could also be a sign that they should have taken the regular season more seriously. If they would have won more contests, they would be in the playoffs and not trying to earn their way in.
The other side of the argument is the NBA regular season means a lot. This year there are 72 games, and a franchise plays those games with the expectation of reaching the playoffs, even as an 8 seed. The play-in tournament shouldn’t cost those teams a playoff spot. They earned the right to be the 7th or 8th seed.
In the end, the NBA is hoping the play-in tournament adds excitement to the game. Maybe it will prove to be a great idea for the NBA. Time will only tell. It is the first real season the NBA is using the format. The NBA needs to let it play out. Athletes and owners are knocking it but they haven’t tried it. Maybe it will work out for teams who normally wouldn’t be in the postseason. Who knows, maybe teams who earn the final two playoff spots could start a long playoff run and advance to the Conference Finals or even the NBA Finals. The worst case is the NBA choose to scrap it after few years.
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