Play-in? We're Talking About the Play-in?

Dear Commissioner Silver: Please cancel the play-in tournament. Okay, I get you probably can't cancel it this year, but next year would be fine.

It made sense at its inception in 2020. In a pandemic-shortened season, it was originally designed to give fringe playoff teams a puncher's chance where the 10 or so canceled games could have made all the difference in a playoff berth. Even then, however, the format was conditional: the 9th-place team of each conference needed to be within 4 games of the 8th-place team of the same conference to even force a play-in game. Additionally, 9 needed to beat 8 TWICE to get into the playoffs (8 only needed to beat 9 once). The 10 seed wasn’t allowed a shot to make it in (this will be important later). [1] Even with the added incentive for teams battling for 8th place to keep fighting 'til the last day of the season, they were really just jostling for position to ultimately get whacked by the Lakers or Bucks.

There was a sensible argument for its continuation into the 2020-21 season. The season started late (December rather than October) to give players a somewhat normal off-season due to COVID-19 delays (the 2020 NBA Finals took place in October, rather than June), which forced the league to shorten the season by 10 games again. So again, it made sense to have a play-in tournament. But there was a new format this time around. [2] Pay attention now, the new rules were wonky: 7 plays 8, and the winner takes the 7th seed in the playoffs, while the loser plays the winner of 9 vs. 10 (they get a chance now too?), where the winner of THAT game takes the 8 seed. Got it?

So what’s really going on here? Is it just the all-knowing and all-good NBA giving bottom-feeders a merciful chance to fulfill their postseason destiny? They will likely tell you its function is to discourage tanking and keep more fan bases engaged; add a few more “playoff-atmosphere” nationally-televised games; and simply provide fan enjoyment. Fair enough. Hold onto those points for a minute.

As we flip the calendar to April, the 2022 playoffs are around the corner. The season is at its normal, pre-pandemic length of 82 games, and yet, the play-in tournament persists. Hmm. Now, what’s REALLY going on here?

Short answer? It smells like a money grab. The NBA sees a chance to televise 6 extra win-or-go-home-type games, captivating at least 8 different markets (4 teams from each conference). So, you’ll get some extra TV revenue from ESPN and TNT.

The NBA has always had the worst playoff format of major North American sports (that’s a whole 'nother post in and of itself), and by continuing this end-of-season play-in tournament, they’ve made it even worse. There are some valid arguments for keeping the tournament, but there’s reasons-a-plenty why Commission Silver should take a “my bad” on this and toss it in the trash, mini-basketball-hoop style.

First argument for: It gives more teams a chance to make the playoffs.

Rebuttal: I could have sub points to my response on this one. We’re back to 82 games; pretty sure that’s enough real estate to determine who the best eight teams in a conference are. Why should the Lakers, Pelicans, and Spurs have a chance to make the playoffs this year? Aren’t the playoffs supposed to be a reward for a season well-played? LeBron, just go home and work on your free throws. Furthermore, in a league where regular-season games are already somewhat meaningless, the tournament diminishes the value of regular-season games even more if you can finish 10th in the standings and still make the postseason.

Second argument for: By giving more teams a chance to make the playoffs, the NBA is keeping more fans and markets engaged.

Rebuttal: As a fan of a historically bad, bottom-dwelling, sad franchise, the play-in originally offered opportunity, hope, and excitement. I get it. However, speaking as a fan of a historically bad, bottom-dwelling, sad franchise, I was still going to watch the playoffs regardless of if my team was in it or not. Because frankly, I never expected them to make it in the first place. So what difference does a little false hope make?

Third argument for: Tanking is discouraged. Finally.

Rebuttal: If you’re gonna tank, you’re gonna tank. Exhibit A: the Portland Trailblazers of 2022. On February 4, the Blazers were 10th in the Western Conference (right in the thick of play-in contention!). Seeing little chance at a playoff run, they proceeded to trade away three of their most valuable veteran players (specifically their second-best player) in two different deals to New Orleans and the LA Clippers, two teams that were close to them in the standings. [3][4] Play-in bound or not, the Blazers wanted to tank. So they tanked.

Fourth argument for: Furthermore, we’ve seen an 8-seed make the NBA finals; we wouldn’t want to take away a potential champion's chance to make the postseason!

Rebuttal: Please. 7 and 8 seeds are a combined 10-142 in the first round of the playoffs, and only one 8 seed has made the finals (they lost). [5] No 7 seeds have made the finals. Next.

Fifth argument for: Okay fine, but it’s just fun!

Rebuttal: Sure, it’s fun for those four nights before the real playoffs start (when every fan outside of the teams who were involved in the play-in forget who was in the play-in tournament). Is it “fun” for teams like the 2022 Minnesota Timberwolves, in the midst of their best season since Kevin Garnett was the mayor of Minneapolis, who could miss the playoffs because they have two bad games? Nope.

Commission Silver, the usefulness of your quirky play-in tournament has expired. Time to retire it with the weird ball and t-shirt jerseys.