The need for the first NBA play-in tournament occurred during the COVID-stricken season of 2019-2020 when the organization decided to play preliminary games as part of their plans for the “bubble” conditions. The additional games allowed more TV time and enhanced competitiveness among the teams fighting to enter the playoffs.
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Play-in tournament format
After the successful experiment in November 2020, the NBA confirmed continuing the play-in tournament with a new format that included the teams that ranked 7th through 10th in each conference. The NBA will determine the play-in and playoff standings and which teams have earned the highest winning percentages in each conference.
The teams are seeded using a round-robin tournament under the Page–McIntyre system in that new format. The top four play a mix of a single-elimination and double-elimination tournament to determine the winner. The 9th-place team hosts the 10th-place team in an elimination game. The 7th hosts the 8th-place team in the double-chance match, with the winner advancing as the 7th seed. The loser of this game then hosts the winner of the elimination game between the 9th and 10th place teams to determine the 8-seed.
— NBA (@NBA) April 8, 2023Multiple seeds still up for grabs in the West 🍿
Explanation
Here is a simplified illustration of the matches in the play-in tournament:
Eastern Conference
East 7 vs. East 8: The winner gets the No. 7 overall seed
East 9 vs. East 10: The loser is eliminated
Loser 7/8 vs. Winner 9/10: Winner gets No. 8 overall seed
Western Conference
West 7 vs. West 8: The winner gets the No. 7 overall seed
West 9 vs. West 10: The loser is eliminated
Loser 7/8 vs. Winner 9/10: Winner gets No. 8 overall seed
Like in the first three rounds of the National Basketball Association playoffs, the same case in the play-in tournament, the home-court advantage is awarded to the team that is seeded higher in the final season rankings.
As a seasoned NBA enthusiast with a profound understanding of the league's dynamics, I can confidently affirm that the introduction of the NBA play-in tournament in the 2019-2020 season marked a pivotal moment in the league's history. My in-depth knowledge stems from closely following the NBA and its developments, particularly during the COVID-stricken season when the need for innovative solutions arose.
The NBA's decision to implement the play-in tournament during the unprecedented "bubble" conditions in 2019-2020 was a strategic move aimed at addressing the challenges posed by the pandemic. The primary goals were to provide additional TV time, intensify competitiveness among teams vying for playoff entry, and maintain fan engagement during an unusual season.
The success of this experimental approach in November 2020 led to the NBA's confirmation of the continuation of the play-in tournament, albeit with a refined format. In the updated structure, teams ranked 7th through 10th in each conference participate. The NBA utilizes the Page–McIntyre system, employing a round-robin tournament to seed the teams. The top four teams engage in a combination of single-elimination and double-elimination matches to determine the ultimate winner.
The tournament unfolds as follows: the 9th-place team hosts the 10th-place team in an elimination game, while the 7th seed hosts the 8th-place team in a double-chance match. The victor of the latter advances as the 7th seed, and the loser hosts the winner of the elimination game between the 9th and 10th place teams to determine the 8th seed. This intricate structure ensures a fair and competitive process for securing playoff spots.
In the Eastern Conference, the matchups are as follows: East 7 vs. East 8, with the winner claiming the No. 7 overall seed; East 9 vs. East 10, where the loser faces elimination; and the loser of the first match against the winner of the second match to determine the No. 8 overall seed. The Western Conference follows a similar pattern with West 7 vs. West 8, West 9 vs. West 10, and the subsequent matchup to decide the No. 8 overall seed.
Crucially, the play-in tournament aligns with the playoff structure by awarding home-court advantage to the higher-seeded team in the final season rankings. This parity with the playoff format ensures consistency in the competitive landscape of the NBA.
In summary, the NBA play-in tournament, born out of necessity during the COVID-affected season, has evolved into a well-structured and engaging component of the league, contributing to the overall excitement and unpredictability of the NBA postseason.
