Keep the Play-In Tournament
Good teams shouldn't be excluded from the playoffs just because of the conference they're in.
May 18-21 2021 marks the debut of the NBA play-in tournament. The format is explained by Jack Malone here, but in short the 7tth and 8th-place teams in each conference are no longer guaranteed playoff spots, and the the 9th- and 10-place teams in each conference can play for the #8 seed..
I've heard three reasons why the play-in was created:
Covid-19 created a shortened regular-season schedule (72 games instead of 82) and protocols associated with positive tests hurt teams during the season through no fault of their own, and therefore more teams deserve a chance at the playoffs.
A shot at the playoffs curbs the practice of "tanking," in which team management makes roster decisions to lose as many games as possible to improve their chances in the NBA draft lottery.
The play-in would generate compelling late-season games, as good teams try to avoid the play-in while struggling teams try to earn a spot.
The play-in may be scrapped or modified after the season if the normal 82-game season is restored. But if we are to have 30 teams divided by two conferences, I like the play-in tournament and I hope it stays.
My reason comes down to this: good teams shouldn't be excluded from the playoffs just because of the conference they're in.
9th- and even 10th-place teams in the Western Conference are often better than the 6th, 7th- and 8th- place teams in the Eastern. The disparity is sometimes close, sometimes embarrassing. I went over data over this season and the previous 14:
In 2007-08, the East #6 seed was 41-41, #7 40-42, #8 37-45, while the West's 9th-place team was 48-34, and the 10-place team was 41-41.
2008-09, East #6 was 41-41, #7 41-41 #8 39-43; West #9 was 46-36.
2009-10, East #8 41-41; West #9 42-40
2010-11, East #8 37-45; West #9 40-42
2012-13, East #7 41-41, #8 38-44; West #9 43-29, #10 41-41
2013-14 East #6 44-38, #7 43-39, #8 38-44, West #9 48-34, #10 40-42
2014-15 East #6 41-41, West #9 45-37
3015-16 AN EXCEPTION: West #8 41-41, East #9 42-40
2017-18 East #8 43-39; West #9 46-36
2019-20 (Bubble season, East #8 33-40, West #9 34-39
2020-21 East #7 36-36, West #9 38-34
From 2006-2007 through 2018-19, there were nine seasons where at least one team missed the playoffs despite having a better record than teams in the other conference that did get in. Eight times, the victims were in the Western conference. The trend continued the last two seasons, although 2019-20 had special circumstances.
This season, 38-34 Memphis finished 9th in the West, while 36-36 Boston finished 7th and 34-38 Washington finished 8th in the East. In the traditional format, Memphis would be out of the playoffs, but now they can compete for the #8 seed.
Under the traditional format, the eight best teams in the conference compete in the playoffs to determine the NBA champion. But they are rarely the 16 best teams in the league overall; the West usually has nine or ten of the best teams, the East just six or seven. Finishing 9th or 10th in the West meant exclusion from the playoffs even if they would have finished 6th, 7th, or 8th in the East.
The play-in accounts for that disparity. All 16 of the best teams now have a chance to get into the playoffs.
It is fair to them, and fair to the fans.
Is it my preferred system? No, but my preferences would alter too many traditions. For instance, I'd do away with the two-conference system. But if we are to maintain the two conferences, the play-in tournament will at least give good teams another chance to make the playoffs.
James Leroy Wilson writes from Nebraska. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter. If you find value in his articles, your support through Paypal helps keep him going. Permission to reprint is granted with attribution. You may contact him for your writing, editing, and research needs: jamesleroywilson-at-gmail.com.