LeBron James on the play-in tournament:"Whoever came up with that needs to be fired"

[Bruin]

Raptors broke him. Lebronto is no more.

If that what makes raptors fans feel better

Guess you didn’t catch that he was joking. Everyone got over the Lebronto thing as soon as we got Kawhi and won a ring

[tundraknight]

Yeah Luka Doncic said the same thing..

https://clutchpoints.com/luka-doncic-is-right-3-reasons-why-the-nba-play-in-tournament-is-a-horrible-idea/

[Catchall]

Every year, there are teams that miss the playoffs by a game or due to a tie-breaker. The play-in keeps those teams relevant and gives them something to play for.

[DCasey91]

I disagree, because you end up in the play-in tournament based on your regular season record.

Maybe I'm used to that because it's something well known in European football leagues and it's usually super-exciting.

Soccer is different higher stakes, relegation, promotion, qualifying, winning international prestigious cups. Lots of $$$ at stake.

NBA is one team prize only.

There's faaar more money in the NBA for everyone - players, teams etc. One of the main points of sports is excitement and the play-in brings that, I think.

Football brings in buckets loads more $$$ that isn’t even a question here. No cap so salary more players across the world get paid. Bigger revenue too. Biggest sport in the world. More people watch the World Cup Finals then the Olympics lol.

EPL players get a half a mill more on average and there’s like 8+ legitimate world class leagues across the world. Deeper talent, more depth etc.

English, Spanish, German, French, Brazil, Italian, Argentine, Dutch, Mexican. Once again biggest sport in the world not close.

I mean playins last year were kind of dud. For Football it’s for very good reasons too. playing for serious stuff, mid level clubs rejoice big time winning a any tourney cup.

[Dan33185]

Every year, there are teams that miss the playoffs by a game or due to a tie-breaker. The play-in keeps those teams relevant and gives them something to play for.

So why not let all teams in the playoffs? You have to cut it off at some point, this play in thing is just stupid.

[trickshot]

Play-in tournament is brilliant idea. The last 10-15 games are super exciting. No one is resting their healthy stars and teams at the top can't "tank" at the end of the season for favorable matchups in the 1st round because we have no idea who will be at #7 and #8 after the paly-in games.

This, although I expect the players and coaches to hate it for all the reasons I like it.

[clyde21]

for all those that think this is a great idea, why not expand it the 11th and 12 seeds? why stop at 10?

[NashtyNas]

Who cares who said it it’s true. Call a spade a spade play in tournaments are stupid. It’s a world class sport. No point having seedings then and RS games value greatly diminishes more than it already is.

Top 8 is top 8 leave it as is. Ain’t broke don’t fix it.

Then the argument then becomes well if you lose as the 8th seed you shouldn’t been there in the first place. Okay then why compromise a team being in the 8th seed instead of rewarding them. So 72 games you’re telling me we have to play more games before the playoffs because teams below weren’t good the entire year? Haha F that noise.

I agree with you on play ins being silly, but 8 teams from each conference making it has been and remains just as silly, if not more so.

The playoffs should be an exclusive right for the best teams from each conference - if more than 50% of the teams make it - they aren't that exclusive.

5 teams from each conference, with the bottom 2 in each duking out to actually play in the real playoffs. Unfortunately will never happen - because $$$$$$$$.

[zshawn10]

Cut this bull. Here's a quote from LeBron back in 2018.

The Cleveland Cavaliers star didn't mince words when asked about the NBA potentially using a postseason play-in tournament.

"No, no, no," James said, via ESPN's Dave McMenamin. "That's wack. That's wack. Why? You got to earn your spot to be in the postseason. No consolation for finishing last. That's corny. That's corny. That's wack. To play for what? What are they playing for?"

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2765841-lebron-james-on-idea-of-nba-play-in-tournament-thats-corny-thats-wack

And here’s your counterpoint from 2020 lol:

https://sports.yahoo.com/lebron-james-wants-play-tournament-203700119.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly90LmNvLw&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAHSRQtBVsrZq2Ex2NhIN2DseP8CqjY5vvfFqWFRnkWXQYklUZmuZAmzf_LyuIk4r4xUnrCPcakDayOAlxkU8Zh6OwzZyUiD6Y2MLv2nyVfAssWec5-P7mQM9bjGaD4O5oPrUnOuw1565ft6Ta9t0ab5mxJz5Sj9Q1F5KOoHFLZJZ

[zshawn10]

Read on Twitter

?s=21

[Buzzard]

Yeah Luka Doncic said the same thing..

https://clutchpoints.com/luka-doncic-is-right-3-reasons-why-the-nba-play-in-tournament-is-a-horrible-idea/

And he also said it later in the season when the Mavericks started looking in danger of being a play in team. I think it makes things more equal. Who wants to see a 7th or 8th seed team that is hobbling and barely able to play in the playoffs? 7 - 10 having to play to get in makes it more likely the two hottest and healthiest teams get in. Its exciting and fluid.

[Sgt Major]

Soccer is different higher stakes, relegation, promotion, qualifying, winning international prestigious cups. Lots of $$$ at stake.

NBA is one team prize only.

There's faaar more money in the NBA for everyone - players, teams etc. One of the main points of sports is excitement and the play-in brings that, I think.

Football brings in buckets loads more $$$ that isn’t even a question here. No cap so salary more players across the world get paid. Bigger revenue too. Biggest sport in the world. More people watch the World Cup Finals then the Olympics lol.

EPL players get a half a mill more on average and there’s like 8+ legitimate world class leagues across the world. Deeper talent, more depth etc.

English, Spanish, German, French, Brazil, Italian, Argentine, Dutch, Mexican. Once again biggest sport in the world not close.

I mean playins last year were kind of dud. For Football it’s for very good reasons too. playing for serious stuff, mid level clubs rejoice big time winning a any tourney cup.

But that goes only for the top-tier teams, not for those getting into the play-ins, especially the relegation/promotion ones.

Of course football is the biggest sport on the planet, no question about that.

And now that you've mentioned it, one of the reasons football is so good is the fact that the surprises can always happen when only one or two games are played in the finals or knock-out phases. They don't occur so often, but when they do, it goes straight into the legendary achievements books.

The NBA's best in 7 system does not allow many surprises and the play-in actually does that, so it makes things interesting.

[DCasey91]

Who cares who said it it’s true. Call a spade a spade play in tournaments are stupid. It’s a world class sport. No point having seedings then and RS games value greatly diminishes more than it already is.

Top 8 is top 8 leave it as is. Ain’t broke don’t fix it.

Then the argument then becomes well if you lose as the 8th seed you shouldn’t been there in the first place. Okay then why compromise a team being in the 8th seed instead of rewarding them. So 72 games you’re telling me we have to play more games before the playoffs because teams below weren’t good the entire year? Haha F that noise.

I agree with you on play ins being silly, but 8 teams from each conference making it has been and remains just as silly, if not more so.

The playoffs should be an exclusive right for the best teams from each conference - if more than 50% of the teams make it - they aren't that exclusive.

5 teams from each conference, with the bottom 2 in each duking out to actually play in the real playoffs. Unfortunately will never happen - because $$$$$$$$.

I do get the conference thing it has valid reasoning behind it. Majors do the same (National). USA is a humungous sized country lol and I’m from Australia. It’s just so big

NFL has 4 divs. It’s traditional which I like. Shorten the season is super obvious. 60 games one home, one away. More value/meaning in the RS, no resting then. Go on a losing slump no more third gear stuffing around. But as you say $$$$ over the end product.

[Sgt Major]

Also imagine the tales if Curry knocked out LeBron in the play-in tournament... Ooooh boy, I'm so not ready for that

[Rainwater]

Disregard.

[DCasey91]

There's faaar more money in the NBA for everyone - players, teams etc. One of the main points of sports is excitement and the play-in brings that, I think.

Football brings in buckets loads more $$$ that isn’t even a question here. No cap so salary more players across the world get paid. Bigger revenue too. Biggest sport in the world. More people watch the World Cup Finals then the Olympics lol.

EPL players get a half a mill more on average and there’s like 8+ legitimate world class leagues across the world. Deeper talent, more depth etc.

English, Spanish, German, French, Brazil, Italian, Argentine, Dutch, Mexican. Once again biggest sport in the world not close.

I mean playins last year were kind of dud. For Football it’s for very good reasons too. playing for serious stuff, mid level clubs rejoice big time winning a any tourney cup.

But that goes only for the top-tier teams, not for those getting into the play-ins, especially the relegation/promotion ones.

Of course football is the biggest sport on the planet, no question about that.

And now that you've mentioned it, one of the reasons football is so good is the fact that the surprises can always happen when only one or two games are played in the finals or knock-out phases. They don't occur so often, but when they do, it goes straight into the legendary achievements books.

The NBA's best in 7 system does not allow many surprises and the play-in actually does that, so it makes things interesting.

Might want to watch Sunderland Til I Die. Brilliant documentary one of the best ever in any sports imo.
It was amazing to get an in depth look at a team that’s spent decades in the EPL and their fall from grace. Very storied franchise pre 21st century. It’s culture, peoples livelhood so to speak

Cities, towns are incredibly dependent on the Clubs outcomes.
Promotions/Relegations is massively important (it’s their World Cup final so to speak for teams, huge $$$$ at stake loss or gain).

[Buzzard]

Cut this bull. Here's a quote from LeBron back in 2018.

The Cleveland Cavaliers star didn't mince words when asked about the NBA potentially using a postseason play-in tournament.

"No, no, no," James said, via ESPN's Dave McMenamin. "That's wack. That's wack. Why? You got to earn your spot to be in the postseason. No consolation for finishing last. That's corny. That's corny. That's wack. To play for what? What are they playing for?"

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2765841-lebron-james-on-idea-of-nba-play-in-tournament-thats-corny-thats-wack

And here’s your counterpoint from 2020 lol:

https://sports.yahoo.com/lebron-james-wants-play-tournament-203700119.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly90LmNvLw&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAHSRQtBVsrZq2Ex2NhIN2DseP8CqjY5vvfFqWFRnkWXQYklUZmuZAmzf_LyuIk4r4xUnrCPcakDayOAlxkU8Zh6OwzZyUiD6Y2MLv2nyVfAssWec5-P7mQM9bjGaD4O5oPrUnOuw1565ft6Ta9t0ab5mxJz5Sj9Q1F5KOoHFLZJZ

The shoe is definitely on the other foot this season. But he clearly said implement for next season if it worked out well. The players agreed to this season and the playoff format. The NBA competition committee approved it. Enough said

[DCasey91]

NBA Fans before we had this..

The season is too long and the games don't really matter!

NBA Fans after this...

God, this is dumb the fact that a 10th seed could make the playoffs is a joke!

This accomplishes two things it makes the final seeds go to the better teams 9 times out of 10 meaning better playoffs overall usually, and it also makes teams battle more for a top 5 spot to avoid the play-in tournament. The beast 5 teams in the EC and WC will still make the playoffs no matter what. I see nothing wrong with a play-in tournament and I bet if it had been like this for 20 years no one would say ****.

**** make every season 62-72 games roughly, and have a play-in tournament to help ensure better teams making the playoffs. If the teams currently in the playoff seeding are truly better they should easily hold onto their playoff seed. I even say this as a fan of a team that is currently in the 6th spot due to a 3 way tie that puts them in the play in tournament.

Injuries for me make a play in tournament for the one prize a huge no no. Like all the way no. You got to 8 because you were better in the RS. Reward it don’t comprise it. Depth is already scarce in the NBA don’t want to go further.
Watch what happens if a young star gets injured players are already not liking it (it’s very understandable, any person would be like wtf you are 10th we are 7th gtfo you don’t deserve another chance try better next year.)
Between 7-10 there good be a big sized gap between wins. That’s not on

[Clay Davis]

Try again.

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/lebron-james-is-no-fan-of-nbas-play-in-tourney-idea-you-got-to-earn-your-spot-to-be-in-playoffs/

Why didn’t he say anything when it actually came into fruition then? What he said 3 years ago is hardly relevant when the rule was implemented in the bubble

"Why is Lebron talking about it when it suddenly becomes relevant and people start asking him more questions about it and people start to actually care about what he thinks?"

The fact that you didn't request this thread closed after someone posted a quote from 2018 speaks volumes.

[monopoman]

Who cares who said it it’s true. Call a spade a spade play in tournaments are stupid. It’s a world class sport. No point having seedings then and RS games value greatly diminishes more than it already is.

Top 8 is top 8 leave it as is. Ain’t broke don’t fix it.

Then the argument then becomes well if you lose as the 8th seed you shouldn’t been there in the first place. Okay then why compromise a team being in the 8th seed instead of rewarding them. So 72 games you’re telling me we have to play more games before the playoffs because teams below weren’t good the entire year? Haha F that noise.

I agree with you on play ins being silly, but 8 teams from each conference making it has been and remains just as silly, if not more so.

The playoffs should be an exclusive right for the best teams from each conference - if more than 50% of the teams make it - they aren't that exclusive.

5 teams from each conference, with the bottom 2 in each duking out to actually play in the real playoffs. Unfortunately will never happen - because $$$$$$$$.

Every other professional sport puts roughly half of their teams in the playoffs, this is not an exclusive thing just to the NBA. College is about the only place where only the best of the best makes it but in College there is a very large amount of teams.