When discussing how to determine the final playoff berths, LeBron broke down the eighth seed in the West, and his eventual first-round opponent. “You got Portland. You got Memphis...New Orleans and Sacramento tinkering around there...so if there's five or ten games left...why not those guys battle it out? Make them play each other all five games?” After Clifton asked if a three-game play-in series would work, the crew came together with a plan that Memphis and Sacramento have a three-game series along with Portland and New Orleans. Then, the winners play in another series to determine who plays the Lakers in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. https://www.nbcsports.com/northwest...ants-play-tournament-final-nba-playoff-berths Count me in. I like the idea, mainly because we’ll have a healthy squad, minus Hood, and it puts the team in control of their own destiny.
What's interesting is (it's been a while memory might be off) is that New Orleans and Sacramento seemed to be coming together while Portland and Memphis seemed to have a lot of issues. Health is also key, Blazers with Zach and Nurk Health (assuming they could play in 2-3 months) would make Portland a much deeper team. Obviously we don't know what to expect from either of them, but I think they go from a cakewalk for a #1 seed to a 6 game series.
There isnt time for multiple play in series. I like the idea floated before the season of a playin: Have 7 and 8 play one game for 7th seed. 9 +10 play one game and loser goes home 78 loser and 9-10 winner play one game for 8th seed. Gives reward for being in 7/8 spot as they have to lose twice to be out. Give 9 and 10 a chance.
Unfortunately I dont see play returning anytime soon. At some point the season needs to be cancelled as the games played to date become about as relevant as Toronto's title. Nurk comes back, Zach is back, Hood is practicing, Durant is playing, Melo is retired. Whoever wins that title would have an asterick? Probably better to just do something different. Either cancel it all or try the midseason vegas single game tournament.
I can't imagine them even playing again this season with the coronavirus pandemic going on. The way things are looking, next season may well be a wash as well.
I’m in too. Gives us a shot. That’s not fair. Memphis should not have a chance to take a playoff seed from Dallas since there’s a big discrepancy between records.
If Dallas is that much better then they should be able to win one of two games (both of which would be in Dallas) against the teams thatre that much worse than them.
I disagree. It's not fair to have one matchup for a couple games decide their fate. If the Blazers were in Dallas' position (comfortably in the Top 7), would you want our whole season to come down to a couple games when they were comfortably in all season long?
If we couldn't win one of two games at home against sub-.500 teams at home to get in the playoffs then we wouldn't deserve it. It's not like they're deciding this randomly, it's because of a pandemic, so it's entirely fair.
Looks like the nba is considering this exact scenario, but in Vegas. I’m in favor of a play in tournament as a permanent thing btw. I like teams being able to control their own destiny. Btw if it’s in Vegas and open to fans I’m there. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/26/coronavirus-how-the-nba-is-planning-to-save-its-season.html The NBA could decide to cancel the remainder of its regular season and create a play-in tournament for lower-seeded teams to enter the postseason. The league could then set up a best-of-five series for the first round, before moving to a one-and-done tournament to determine the two teams that will play in the NBA Finals, which would also be a best-of-five, people familiar with the planning said. The tournament and NBA Finals would be held in Las Vegas at the Thomas & Mack Center and Cox Pavilion, where the league hosts its annual Summer League events. “It certainly would be the first place to think about,” said Marty Conway, an adjunct professor at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business. “The NBA also has a solid history of not only playing Summer League, but also the commercial opportunities that they’ve built around the Summer League and everything that goes with it.” The NBA could also test elements of its planned in-season tournament, which Silver said he “strongly” believes will be incorporated in the coming years. NBA sources told CNBC the league has already floated the idea of using Las Vegas as the final location for a possible in-season tournament.
I'll definitely be there if it's in Vegas. I would think they would hold it in the T-Mobile Arena though.