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Old news but Lakers has been 7, 11, 7, and 8 seeds in the past four years. Missed one and fell in play-in three out of four seasons. In that sense, can we say Lakers have been the biggest victim?

https://www.si.com/nba/2021/05/03/lebron-rips-play-in-tournament-needs-to-be-fired

They actually have. They would have made the playoffs without the play in tournament those 3 years, likely with a better matchup this year. I'm seeing this floating around a lot today and people are saying "LA has been in the play in all these years, they're lucky it's a thing". Turns out, they would have been better off without it

KyRo23 wrote:They actually have. They would have made the playoffs without the play in tournament those 3 years, likely with a better matchup this year. I'm seeing this floating around a lot today and people are saying "LA has been in the play in all these years, they're lucky it's a thing". Turns out, they would have been better off without it

This

I can live with that for the west this year since the standings were very tight but in the east it's ridiculous!

I mean, no way Chicago and Atlanta deserve to have a chance to make the playoffs...Same thing for the Pelicans in 2022 when they were 36-46

The play-in is good for the show and good for the ratings and for the money but it's not really fair when we can see random teams who were very mediocre for 82 games have a chance to make the playoffs with a little 2 game winning streak

He's saying fire Silver

This year, I would argue thought, Lakers and Warriors were able to hang in there to a big part because of the play-in rule/hope.

It's amazing perception is pretty much everything. People still think to this day this play In has been favouring the lakers despite the actual fact that it just risked lakers' chances of making the playoffs. Unbelievable.

The pros/cons have been repeated too much ... It is great. The con of the 9th/10th seed "having a chance" to make the playoffs is so miniscule compared to the huge positives of getting teams in the 5-12 range to compete harder down the stretch. NBA is entertainment after-all. There's no argument to be had to say the NBA has been LESS entertaining due to the play-in.

It's hilarious seeing some people on social media revisiting this quote by LeBron trying to slander him for no reason without knowing the fact that the Lakers never needed the play-in tournament and they would've made the playoffs straight up every time. Now they need to play extra unnecessary elimination games just to keep their spot.

the play-in exists solely to make it easier to rig. It applies to all sports that have expanded their playoff seeds. This allow leagues to ensure the teams (and players) they want to be in the playoffs, will be. Teams can rest their stars and blow the regular season off or withstand unlucky injuries but know that they're guaranteed to move on via the play-in or because there are more playoff teams. It cheapens everything and makes regular seasons pointless and a joke.

There’s no way of telling what the butterfly effect would be without the play-in. Teams would strategize differently and you may end up with different results at the bottom of the playoff bracket.

FarBeyondDriven wrote:the play-in exists solely to make it easier to rig. It applies to all sports that have expanded their playoff seeds. This allow leagues to ensure the teams (and players) they want to be in the playoffs, will be. Teams can rest their stars and blow the regular season off or withstand unlucky injuries but know that they're guaranteed to move on via the play-in or because there are more playoff teams. It cheapens everything and makes regular seasons pointless and a joke.

Do you consider Kings benefiting from it or an victim from this rule?

It's funny how a billionare can just throw statements about how other people should lose their jobs.
Did the person who created it did not do his job well? If so, why?
Should the play in tournment be judged based on personal interests, after the results happened?
Doesn't the person blaming him have a personal interest?

The play-in has been great. Most teams have something to play for until the final game of the season thanks to it. The regular season was painful to watch/follow before it. And LeBron would be singing a different tune had the Dubs won against the Pelicans a few days ago.

He said it in 2021, now he's figured out if he wins the title from the play in a few more people might consider him the GOAT over Michael Jordan. I won't, but a few people.

dygaction wrote:This year, I would argue thought, Lakers and Warriors were able to hang in there to a big part because of the play-in rule/hope.

All these teams were within one game of each other heading into the last game of the season. Of all seasons with a play in, this would be the one where a play in wasn’t needed for teams to feel like they had hope. They all literally had a shot til the end.

The play in remains dumb. Common LeBron W.

playoffs wrote:The play-in has been great. Most teams have something to play for until the final game of the season thanks to it. The regular season was painful to watch/follow before it. And LeBron would be singing a different tune had the Dubs won against the Pelicans a few days ago.

I don't think he will. It's from an article 3 years ago.

ChipotleWest wrote:He said it in 2021, now he's figured out if he wins the title from the play in a few more people might consider him the GOAT over Michael Jordan. I won't, but a few people.

you think he needs the “play in” for it to be impressive for a 7th or lower to win the title?

LeBron is a man of the people. Future NBA owner.