Looking At the NBA’s Play-In Tournament and Its Success Since 2020
The NBA Playoffs are underway, and teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Oklahoma City Thunder have set the tone. The Cavaliers beat the Toronto Raptors 126-113 in the first game, and the Thunder beat the Phoenix Suns by 35. The playoffs are off to a good start, and for a team like the Suns, the Play-In Tournament helped them get to this point.
The NBA Play-In Tournament dates back to 2020, and during that year’s postseason, the Portland Trail Blazers were the eighth seed in the Western Conference. They earned that spot due to their victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.
Blazers And Grizzlies Make History With Play-In Game
Portland finished that season with a record of 35-39, and Memphis was close behind. The Grizzlies finished with a record of 35-39, and they earned a play-in spot. The Eastern Conference was a bit different that year, as the Orlando Magic had a significant lead over the Washington Wizards. So, the Eastern Conference did not have a play-in game at that time.
The Blazers picked up a close win over the Grizzlies, and it was a battle of the guards. Ja Morant had 35 points, and Damian Lillard had 31 points in his team’s win. Then, once that game was out of the way, Lillard and his team faced the Los Angeles Lakers in the playoffs. Los Angeles won that series, and the Lakers went on to win a championship.
Eastern Conference Gets Involved In Play-In Tournament
In 2021, both conferences had Play-In Tournament games, and when it came to the seventh seed of the East, the Boston Celtics earned that spot. They beat the Wizards 118-100 in their play-in game, and after that win, Boston prepared for a playoff series against the Brooklyn Nets.
As far as the Wizards, they had another shot at a playoff spot, and they faced the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers beat the Charlotte Hornets in their first play-in game, and a win over the Wizards would have solidified their spot in the playoffs. However, Washington picked up a blowout win and put an end to Indiana’s hopes. The Wizards moved on, and they faced the Philadelphia 76ers.
While the Eastern Conference games were blowouts, the Western Conference ones were more competitive. For example, the Lakers beat the Golden State Warriors by three to earn the seventh seed. The Lakers faced the Suns in the playoffs, and they ended up losing. After that series, the Suns went on a deep playoff run, and they faced the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Finals.
Memphis Makes The Playoffs
While the Warriors had another opportunity, the Grizzlies added another playoff appearance to their legacy. They beat the San Antonio Spurs 100-96 in their first play-in game, and they beat the Warriors in overtime. The Grizzlies faced the Utah Jazz in the playoffs, and Utah won the series 4-1.
Since then, the Play-In Tournament has lived on, and it has helped teams secure playoff spots. The Suns lost their first game of this year’s tournament, as the Blazers beat them in a battle. However, after a win over the Warriors, Phoenix became the eighth seed. With their win over the Suns, the Blazers earned the seventh seed, and they are taking on the Spurs.
When it came to the Eastern Conference, the 76ers beat the Magic, and they received the seventh seed. Now, they are taking on the Celtics, and the first game of the series did not go in their favor. Then, despite the loss to Philadelphia, Orlando defeated Charlotte to get the final playoff spot. The Play-In Tournament remains a staple, and it will impact playoff seeding from now on.
