The NBA play-in occasion rules and format, explained

After experimenting with a ‘play-in’ sport at the bubble final season, the NBA is keeping an expanded play-in occasion for the fundamental time ever to search out out the final two seeds within the playoffs in every conference. The play-in occasion will birth up on Might perchance perhaps perchance simply 18 and bear on Might perchance perhaps perchance simply 21, only 1 day forward of the beginning up of the 2021 NBA Playoffs.

The tip eight teams in every conference have historically qualified for the NBA playoffs, but not anymore. Now the No. 7 and No. 8 seeds want to make their come into the postseason by strategy of the play-in occasion, while the No. 9 and No. 10 seeds can even have of challenge to atomize the playoff occasion.

NBA play-in occasion rules

The No. 7 seed will face the No. 8 seed in every conference. The winner of that sport turns into the No. 7 seed within the 2021 NBA Playoffs.
The No. 9 seed faces the No. 10 seed in every conference. The loser of that sport is eradicated from playoff competition and would possibly perhaps well must restful be within the lottery.
The loser of the 7-8 sport then plays the winner of the 9-10 sport for the No. 8 and final seed within the playoffs.

Here’s a graphic explaining how the occasion works, by strategy of NBA.com:

Bag from now on questions on the play-in occasion? We can strive to acknowledge to them here.

Why is the NBA doing a play-in occasion?

The league wanted to uncover the end of the neatly-liked-or-garden season extra basic while also constructing a ‘Sport 7’ ambiance with early elimination games heading into the playoffs. The play-in occasion used to be also seen as a come to deter tanking.

The introduction of the play-in occasion has no doubt created extra drama all the draw by the final stretch of the neatly-liked-or-garden season. The No. 6 seed has now turn out to be a hotly contested fight in every conference as teams strive to preserve away from needing to qualify for the playoffs by the play-in occasion. The No. 7 and No. 8 seeds have also turn out to be contested because it gives extra margin for error within the play-in occasion that the No. 9 and No. 10 seeds don’t have as they face an elimination sport to birth out up the occasion.

What are the projected matchups for the NBA play-in occasion?

Yow will uncover as a lot as this point standings here, plus projected matchups for the play-in occasion and NBA playoffs.

LeBron James and Designate Cuban have criticized the play-in occasion

James’ ankle injure has build the Lakers in jeopardy of needing to buckle down and do the play-in occasion to qualify for the playoffs. James has long previous on the myth announcing he doesn’t the premise of the play-in occasion.

LeBron James on the play-in occasion: “Whoever came up with that s— wants to be fired”

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) Might perchance perhaps perchance simply 3, 2021

Dallas Mavericks owner Designate Cuban has also been vital of the play-in occasion. Here’s what he in truth helpful ESPN earlier this year:

“The worst share of this come is that it doubles the stress of the compressed schedule. In preference to taking part in for a playoff converse and being in a blueprint to relaxation gamers as the standings turn out to be clearer, teams must come every sport as a playoff sport to either uncover into or end within the tip 6 for the rationale that penalties, as Luka talked about, are huge. So gamers are taking part in extra games and extra minutes in fewer days.”

“In hindsight, this come used to be an huge mistake,” Cuban in truth helpful ESPN.