JULY 12: The Board of Governors has approved the adoption of the play-in tournament on a full-time basis using the same format that was in place for the 2020/21 and ’21/22 seasons, according to a league press release. The play-in tournament next season will take place from April 11-14, between the last day of the regular season on April 9 and the start of the playoffs on April 15.
The Board of Governors also approved the heightened penalty of a free throw – which may be attempted by any player on the offensive team in the game at the time that the foul is committed – and possession when a defensive player commits a “transition take foul.”
JULY 11: The NBA’s Board of Governors is expected to approve the play-in tournament as a regular part of future league seasons, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports. Final approval is expected during Tuesday’s ownership meetings at the Vegas Summer League.
The NBA had held the play-in tournament during the last two seasons and there’s enough support from the Board to turn the event into a regular component of the league’s schedule. An announcement regarding the tournament’s permanent status will be made after the meeting, Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press confirms (Twitter link).
The play-in tournament has involved the teams with the seventh, eighth, ninth and 10th best records in the respective conferences. The survivors serve as the No. 7 and 8 seeds. It’s designed to curb tanking and keep more franchises engaged longer into the regular season. Up until this point, it has been approved on a year-by-year basis.
The NBA believes that the tournament, along with the flattening of lottery odds for teams with the worst records, has discouraged more teams from tanking in order to improve their lottery position.
An in-season tournament will also be a topic of discussion at Tuesday’s meeting. Both the play-in and in-season tournaments need to be collectively bargained with the union.
The league sees the in-season tournament as another major source of revenue. A proposal has been made to shorten the regular season to 78 games in order to accommodate a tournament that would culminate before Christmas.
The Board of Governors are also expected to pass a rule that penalizes the “take foul” on fast breaks with a free throw and possession. The league has experimented with the new rule during Summer League games. The offensive team would get to choose who shoots the free throw, Fred Katz of The Athletic tweets.
Modifications regarding the enforcement of proper bench decorum will also be mulled by the Board, according to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports. Stiffer penalties could be assessed to teams, with the issue of players standing up at the bench for extended portions of the game a particular point of contention. Fans with tickets near the benches have complained about obstructed views due to players standing in front of them for extended periods of time. The Mavericks were fined a total of $175K during the 2022 playoffs for violations of bench decorum.
$$$ But I’m fine with that.
Wtfff, gross.
The Warriors have proven you don’t need to tank to win. You need better scouts, coaches, and PATIENCE. The whole ‘One-and-Done’ philosophy isn’t good for the Association. Players don’t coming fully formed after their freshman year and college. They still need coaching.
I’ll give it a chance. Wouldn’t be the first time I eventually grew accustomed to something I didn’t think I’d like originally.
I definitely would have zero interest in an “in-season tournament” an obvious cash grab meant to appeal to casuals. I’d rather watch G-league.
I agree. I don’t know what the purpose of an in-season tournament would serve versus regular season games.
What if the winning team gets a bonus draft pick? Say #15 pick (making the first round 31 picks). A good team can use that in a trade during season.
What if wins in this tournament count as regular season wins? A team can get a few extra wins – so it can rest their best players down the road
I like the draft pick idea. If there is nothing of significance it’s as meaningless as the all star game.
I like the play-in but they need to tweak it a little. If either or both the 9/10 seeds are really far back from the 8 seed and below .500, they don’t deserve a shot. They need some stipulations like they did when they first tried the play-in back in the bubble.
Screw the in-season tournament. I don’t see how they can make that compelling to anyone: players, dedicated fans, and casuals alike.
Nah, I love the play-in tournament. If they’re that far back the 7/8 seeds should be able to beat them. If the 7/8 seeds can’t beat them, they shouldn’t get the privilege of being swept.
Still don’t get the fascination over having 8-10 seeds play it out only to get swept. Only two teams have ever gone to the finals as a seed lower than 6 with the current 16 game playoff format, 94-95 rockets (6th seed) and 98-99 Knicks (8th seed). It’s just a money grabber for the league, nothing more, nothing less.
There isn’t any “fascination”. No one cares. But watching two teams play to get into the playoffs is still infinitely more interesting than an “in-season tournament”
Of course it is. The only reason the league exists is to make money. This is not the Olympic ideal at work here. Which is actually not a good metaphor anymore since the Olympics have become one of the biggest money grabs ever.
I am tired of the NBA with all these “gimmicks” to generate interest not just from the fans, but from there own damn players. I am not interested in a Play-In Tournament, nor am i interested in an In-Season Tournament. Everybody knows the regular season is meaningless for the most part.
What the NBA needs to do is to lower the damn prices of everything. I get the players should get half of the money coming in. However, when Damian Lillard, who plays no defense, and has never won a damn thing gets $61 million a year. Your Prices Are Way Too High And You Are Screwing Your Fans!!!
Teams charge as much as they do because enough fans are willing to pay those prices. Simple as that.
How’d you find time to make this post between yelling at all the kids to get off your lawn????
They will charge what they can. Watch BB on free tv when possible! They make a fortune on NBA TV. ESPN runs ads too.
“The league sees the in-season tournament as another major source of revenue. ” Guess that means that we’re getting one whether we like it or not.
Did you ever think otherwise?
So the league will still allow teams to trade away their established talent, or bench them for a full season or more, or simply buy them out, to tank, but they think a play-in tourney for the 7-10 seeds is a solution to the problem? That just leaves a handful (barely) of teams in each conference an easier tank path and chance at a high draft pick.
Love the play in..absolutely
See no logic in the mid season tournament. Wtf does that accomplish? Besides cash grab and unnecessary marketing
Did they ask LeBron for his opinion?
1st injury and its history
The play-ins work but what to do with the stats? Just also call the play-ins, playoffs. It’s just playing semantics not to.
Or, give all the teams a shot in a single-elim tournament rostered with only the players that were NOT shut down early in the RS.
That would best the the NCAA trny with their ridiculous elitist system that still allows 66 teams in or whatever the number is… But which should allow all, like highschool postseason tournys do. They are popular.
The desired midseason trny will get bungled somehow. Giving players even more money will not be popular. The rewards will have to be draft-slot related, but that would present problems too— It is players with a tenuous hold on their jobs that might skip or slow-play them.
I propose to play half-games with limited rosters that includes the stars, or whoever the league office think will draw viewers— That is what they want after all. Play one half-game, then switch locations to play another, one game after another on tv, for a good long day of NBA BB.