The NBA doesn’t go through many changes regularly but the last few years have thrown them a few curveballs.
The COVID pandemic and subsequent shutdown really forced the league to alter how it does business.
And that alteration has led to a brand new addition to the season, one that some people love and other people loathe.
But that new addition is here to stay.
ESPN Sources: NBA’s Board of Governors is expected on Tuesday to approve the Play-In Tournament as a regular part of future league seasons. The Play-In had been voted on a year-to-year basis in past two seasons, but support exists to turn it into annual element of NBA structure.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 11, 2022
Adrian Wojnarowski is reporting that the NBA’s Board of Governors had decided to approve the play-in tournament as a regular part of future league seasons.
Before now, the play-in has been voted for on a year-to-year basis but now it’s going to be sticking around for the long term.
The play-in tournament was created out of necessity but has quickly become one of the most exciting parts of the season.
Play-In Plays On
Back when COVID shut down the league, it wasn’t clear how the season would conclude and how a winner would be declared.
When the NBA decided to move forward with the games in the Orlando bubble, it also created the play-in tournament.
The tournament matches teams seeded 7 through 10 in each conference and forces them to battle it out to eventually win the final 7 and 8 seeds in the playoffs.
For some, the play-in is a pain in the neck and not really fair (the way it forces the seventh and eighth seeds to fight for their spot seems cruel to some) but others love the excitement and uncertainly and energy it adds to the last few weeks of the regular season.
Now it’s here to stay, a permanent fixture in the NBA so no matter your opinion it’s time to get ready for a lot more of it.
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