What is the point of the NBA Play-in Game?

What’s the point of the play-in game, it’s not like the teams that earn the 7th or 8th seed have a chance of making it past the first round of the playoffs. That may be true but not always the case and though it may be difficult to beat the number 1 seed in the first round, this year may be different. Many star players on good teams have suffered injuries due to the condensed season, while their record doesn’t fully tell the story of how good a team may be.

Even though the play-in game isn’t part of the actual playoffs, it will definitely have the same vibe and atmosphere as an actual playoff game, you lose you go home. This new format will bring in more viewers especially when you have the defending champions (Lakers) who have struggled with injuries most of the season or now facing elimination playing in the play-in game. This one game may be enough to get them rolling when they face Phoenix Suns.

Let’s take a look at why the NBA needed a play-in game and if this will in fact make the league better and more competitive in the postseason. This year marks the second year of the play-in game and still, it raises questions if the NBA should continue to implement it in futures seasons.

What is the point of a play-in game?

The play-in game is an entertaining way to incorporate more competitive basketball amongst teams who in years past would be out of the playoff picture by one single game in the standings.

The NBA is aware that often times several teams will be out of the playoff picture. Many teams that are in the playoff picture are only separated by a hand full of games.

Though many viewers will say it is pointless as many higher seed teams are likely to steamroll over these teams in the first round.

But in basketball, we all know that a superstar player may get injured and that can cost the team to lose a series.

This has happened a few times in the NBA Finals already, it could sure happen in the first round if you are hoping for a prayer for your team to advance.

How does the NBA play-in game work?

I won’t go into too much detail as I have already written an extensive article with many examples of how the play-in game works. (Click Here!) Here is the quicker version of it.

The play-in game works as follows:

 

In the Western Conference, before the play-in game the standings are:

7th – Lakers

8th – Warriors

9th – Grizzlies

10th – Spurs

The 7th seed Lakers play the 8th seed Warriors to secure the 7th seed. If the Warriors happen to win they get the 7th seed.

The Lakers lost and now play the winner of the 9th seed Grizzlies versus the 10th seed Spurs to secure the 8th seed.

The loser of the Grizzlies versus the Spurs goes home and is out of the playoffs.

While the winner now has to play a second game against the Lakers to secure the 8th seed. The loser goes home.

Notice how the 7th or 8th seed has to only win one game while the 9th and 10th seed have to win two games.

For more information on how this all works with more examples Click here!

Why does the NBA have a play-in game?

Many NBA fans frown upon the implementation of the new play-in game format. Why exactly does there need to be one and what purpose does it serve when oftentimes these lower seed teams don’t have a chance in hell making it past the first round.

You play 72 to 82 games in the season, you had your chance to make the top 8 spots in the conference and you are now the 9th and 10th seed who get another opportunity to make the playoffs?

For some fans it sounds ridiculous to go this route for other fans it’s just more NBA basketball for us to watch.

So, let me break it down for you, this is why I believe the play-in game is a great idea for right now to kick off playoff basketball.

Ratings

The NBA has suffered a major decline in ratings in the last couple of years. In fact, the NBA Finals in 2020 which took place in the Orlando bubble was one of the worse Finals when it came to ratings in NBA history.

34 percent of viewers put sports second in favor of social justice campaigns that took place in the summer months of 2020.

The season was even almost canceled, but it was no play no pay.

As the 2020/21 season began the drop in TV ratings continued, the season is nearing the end while Steph Curry is shooting the lights out and setting records, things are looking far better than a year ago.

This year the play-in game will involve both Steph Curry and Lebron James. Their two teams will face off against each other to secure the 7th seed in the Western Conference.

This will boost ratings with two superstars facing off against each other like they often have in the NBA Finals for multiple years in a row in the past. Now the excitement comes in the form of a play-in game.

NBA Tournament

The NBA has dabbled with the thought of a mid-season tournament, but many owners and teams are not at all interested in it.

Though the details of the tournament have not been fully released or planned there were some thoughts about the winner getting a monetary reward and an advantage when it came to the NBA playoffs.

What that advantage is? No one really knows.

The play-in tournament, I believe is a small way for the NBA to measure the success of these game, although not really a tournament it does provide a unique approach to a wild card spot.

The NBA’s main priority is to make the game as entertaining as possible. Many will hate the play-in game because a 7th  or 8th seed can lose twice and those 72 games that it took to make it into the playoffs can come to an end just like that.

But I think there are far more benefits to the play-in game like the excitement of equally matched teams fighting for a playoff spot.

Team Rankings

With the decrease in the number of season games (72)  in the 2020/21 season and far less rest time when coming off the 2020 NBA bubble in Orlando, many teams will struggle to find their way during the season.

We are talking 72 games in four and a half months instead of the 7 months it would have taken to play 82 games in a regular season.

The increase in injuries, overuse of muscles, and exhaustion can leave everyone on the same playing field.

In the Eastern Conference teams in the 7,8,9 and 10th spot are separated by 3 games. While the Lakers who won the 2020 NBA Finals finished 7th in the Western Conference after being in the top position at the beginning of the year.

While LeBron James and Anthony Davis both suffered injuries during the season in which every game matters, it is no wonder why they are in the position they are in.

In years past the top 2 teams in each conference after the regular season usually have at least one team or both in the Conference Final.

It was always safe to say that at least one number one seed would always make the NBA Finals.

But this year I don’t know if this will be the case, I think the NBA standings do not directly correlate to how good teams actually are.

I do believe there will be a lot of upsets when you look at their ranking in the standings. A team like the Lakers who are the 7th seed can easily make the NBA Finals based on their talent alone.

Rankings can go out the window this year, expect a lot of first times to happen in the 2021 NBA playoffs.

A lot of these teams who are at the top of their conference do not have a lot of playoff experience, and we all know the playoffs are a different animal with many teams often collapsing under the pressure.

Play-in games give teams a head start

The play-in game will definitely give teams a feeling of playoff atmosphere. Let’s face it your season is on the line and you are in a must-win situation.

This can give teams a head start and since they are the low seed playing the higher seed teams such as 1 vs 8, the lower seed team will have an easier chance to steal a game on the road as they already got to play one game hoping this will grease the groove much quicker so to speak.

Last year in the NBA bubble we saw the struggling Phoenix Suns win 8 games in a row prior to playoffs after a long layoff due to the pandemic.

Many teams were just trying to get their feet going again after 5 months off, some players didn’t even touch a basketball. Some teams didn’t appear themselves and how could they.

NBA teams played for 5 months then took 5 months off and then pick up where they last left off.

Most teams I am sure were happy not seeing the young red hot Phoenix Suns in the first round as they didn’t make the play-in game.