The new NBA Play-In Tournament has brought some highs and lows to the NBA teams that have participated so far. The new style of elimination has also brought blessings and curses for many teams. The impact of the Play-In Tournament is not only for those middle-of-the-pack teams that can’t be competitive or tank, it can affect anyone. This year’s Play-In has been crucial to everyone and hit every impact possible. The positives and the negatives of the tournament are on display.
Positive Impact
The Eastern Conference is the perfect example of what a Play-In Tournament should be. All four teams that have clinched the Play-In have winning records and will most likely finish that way. Four teams who deserve a playoff birth have to go and earn it instead of being a game behind the eighth seed and being rewarded with the 14th pick.
The Cavaliers, Nets, Hawks, and Hornets will battle in this year’s Play-In Tournament, and the final few games couldn’t mean more. The difference in the eight and nine-spot determine winning one of two or two straight games to play. The order currently is Cavs, Nets, Hawks, then Hornets. If this were played today, the Cavs without their stifling center-duo would benefit from this seventh seed because, assuming they lose to Brooklyn, they get another chance.
The Nets are a true contender who finds themselves in do-or-die basketball before even playing a series. For pre-season favorites, the pressure is on. Teams that are at the top of the conference are monitoring the Nets’ play-in spot to try and avoid that round one. The Hawks also find themselves in elimination basketball after being in the Conference Finals next year. Two teams with dangerous potential could sneak their way into the postseason and make some news.
Before the spots were decided, there was pressure on teams like the Raptors and Bulls. Both teams looking to avoid that Play-In Tournament to firmly grasp a playoff birth. This isn’t just for those mediocre squads, it’s for some contenders to avoid elimination basketball so early on.
However, the Western Conference shows everything wrong with the Play-In Tournament.
Negative Impact
Out West, three of the four teams have losing records. The Timberwolves are sitting the same distance from the three seed as they do to the eighth seed. Despite this, they find themselves playing a below .500 team to get into the playoffs. They have a chance to avoid that but sitting two games back of the Nuggets with two games left, you’ll need some luck.
The Clippers wouldn’t be an odd team to see in the playoffs in the old format. They are a game below .500, but can be dangerous with Paul George and potentially Kawhi Leonard playing. If the Clippers got their full squad for these playoffs, certainly not the team you’d like to see early. As for the Pelicans and Spurs, they are the example of teams who can’t tank nor compete and find themselves in this Play-In Tournament. It would be a shame for the Timberwolves to slip two games and miss the postseason because two teams with no direction got hot.
Perhaps this could be taken in the opposite direction. If the Timberwolves are so much better than every other play-in team, they can prove it and go get one.
Good for the League
This Play-In Tournament will take some time to get used to and fans will eventually come around to it. The tournament has an effect on every team and not just mediocre franchises dying for a playoff spot. Either way, people are going to watch the games when they are on. Enjoy the elimination basketball instead of dreading it.
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