Mark Medina: Adam Silver on if there will be an in-season tournament: “We’re not there yet.” Silver said there are ongoing talks with the competition committee, board of governors and players union
NBA Rumor: Play-In Tournament
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My recent piece on the play-in round leading into the NBA playoffs called for the league to reinstitute a threshold for the teams that finish ninth and 10th in each conference, mandating that they are respectably close to the seventh and eighth seeds to earn the right to force play-in games. Turns out I am not alone. The league office, I’m told, has been asked to look into the issue by some of its teams.
Sarah K. Spencer: Play-in tournament schedule is out. April 12: East No. 8 vs. East No. 7 April 13: East No. 10 vs. East No. 9 April 15: winner of 9/10 vs. loser of 7-8 pic.twitter.com/fZ76oFHXJk
Play-In Tournanent getting some tweaks in upcoming years?
Mike Vorkunov: The NBA has discussed keeping the play-in tournament in place beyond this season, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said. It might be tweaked. Silver: “I think it’ll become a fixture in this league.”
Jim Eichenhofer: Larry Nance Jr., after being asked about #NBA implementing play-in tournament: “I think it’s great honestly. The whole ‘tanking culture’ in the NBA is so toxic, for players in it, and organizations as a whole. Anything we can do to get rid of that as a viable option is great.”
Jorge Sierra: Lakers looking like a lock for the play-in tournament. They are 5.5 games away from No. 6 and 3.5 games ahead of No. 11.
Jeanie Buss not a fan of Play-In tournament
Why she doesn’t like the Play-In playoff format: Jeanie Buss: “I obviously see the excitement of it. If we would have lost two games, we wouldn’t have been in the playoffs at all. And that’s, that’s a tough pill to swallow. When you’ve been in the top eight for the entire season. You never dropped out of the playoff position. But yet, you know, you can lose two games, and that’s what happened to Golden State, they were at the eighth spot, and then they ended up losing to us and then to Memphis and they didn’t make it in the playoffs. I could see where it’s kind of fun for one game, but I don’t want to diminish what happens in the regular season. They like to say that it combats tanking and I think tanking would be best served by losing draft picks, something that hurts the basketball department as opposed to a financial punishment, right? Because the general manager’s job is based on wins and losses. The general manager’s job isn’t based on how many season tickets you sell, or how many sponsors.”
NBA commissioner Adam Silver says he’s smoothed things over with LeBron James about his hatred for the play-in tournament … telling TMZ Sports he believes the Lakers superstar now “understands” the purpose for the extra games.
“We talked about it,” Silver told us. “I think at the end of the day, I understand. Especially if you went deep last year and you have that end, you have that many sort of games on your legs.” “You’re not looking forward to more games. But, I think he understands the context of the league.”
Play-In Tournament officially back for the 2021-22 season
The NBA Board of Governors today approved a proposal to continue the Play-In Tournament for the 2021-22 season. The Play-In Tournament for the 2021-22 season, which was also agreed to by the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA), will follow the same format as the Play-In Tournament for the 2020-21 season. The teams that finish the regular season with the seventh-highest through the 10th-highest winning percentages in each conference will compete to fill the seventh and eighth playoff seeds in each conference.
Below are some key dates for the 2021-22 season. • Aug. 2: Teams can begin negotiating with free agents (6 p.m. ET) • Aug. 6: Teams can begin signing free agents (12:01 p.m. ET) • Aug. 8-17: MGM Resorts NBA Summer League in Las Vegas • Sept. 28, 2021: Training camp begins • Oct. 19, 2021: Regular season begins • April 10, 2022: Regular season concludes • April 12-15, 2022: Play-In Tournament • April 16, 2022: Playoffs begin • June 2, 2022: NBA Finals begin • June 19, 2022: Game 7 of NBA Finals (if necessary) • June 23, 2022: NBA Draft
NBA and Players Association agree to bring back play-in tournament for 2021-22
Two, Silver said the NBA will continue some version of a play-in tournament. “Overall, it was very positive for the league and the players,” Silver said. “Certainly there’d been some suggestions about some tweaks we should consider, but again, I think once we bring it back to our owners for a vote and the Players Association meets and has an opportunity to consider it, it’s my expectation that it will continue for next season.”
Adam Silver expects play-in tournament to continue next season
Tim Reynolds: Important to note: Nobody knows what the planned end date of next season in the NBA is yet — because we don’t know for certain if the play-in tournament returns. It likely will. But it’s not definitive.
Ben Cafardo: ESPN continues it’s @NBA audience success as Friday’s Play-In game – #Grizzlies defeated the #Warriors – averaged 3,633,000 viewers (Nielsen) ESPN’s 2nd-most watched NBA game of the season so far and won the night across all of television in prime time and in all key demos
Adam Silver wants play-in tournament to be long-term
NBA commissioner Adam Silver on Friday said his personal preference is for the play-in tournament to continue after this season, and that it was a success because of the incentive it gave teams to care until the end of the regular season. “I haven’t made any secret that I want it to be [around long term],” Silver told Keyshawn, J-Will and Zubin on ESPN Radio. “I have two constituencies I need to convince of that. One is the 30 teams, and I think for the most part they’ve supported it. Again, I understand the sentiment if I were a team — a 7-seed in particular — the notion [that] after a long season, you could potentially play out of the playoffs. I understand those feelings. I think at the same time, the teams recognize the amount of additional interest we’ve created over the last month of the season plus those play-in games make it worth it.
“Of course, the other constituency is the players. For example, one player, who is on the executive committee of the union, said to me yesterday that he really likes the play-in tournament but he felt it could potentially be a bit unfair. For example, if you were the seventh seed and you were a significant number of games ahead of the 8-seed, the notion that you could somehow lose two games and be out of the playoffs seems unfair.”
While the regular season was shorter, Silver said it was the incentive structures that the play-in tournament provided that made it a compelling way to play out the final weeks of the regular season. “Over the past few years, pre-pandemic, there’s been a lot of reference to our long regular season and the issues around player resting, and we tried to address that as well,” Silver said. “We moved to a 72-game season because of the pandemic and somewhat condensed so we had 10 fewer regular-season games, and I had hardly heard a mention about it. … I think the way we dealt best with the resting, although we have some rules around it now, was the motivation for teams to care about being in the playoffs and their actual play-in position. “That incentive is what made the biggest difference, not the reduction of the 10 games.”
Out of the 30 NBA teams, 24 had a chance to earn a spot in at least the play-in tournament over the final two weeks of the regular season. “I’m going to wait only because I know there’s people on both sides of it,” Silver said. “… Beyond the individual ratings, and some games have been pretty good and some haven’t been as close, but putting aside those games and adding those games to our schedule and the amount of interest in them is where I think the play-in tournament had an impact. [It] was causing teams who frankly otherwise may have thrown in the towel some number of weeks back to fight for those last playoff spots.”
Michele Roberts: With respect to the play-in, frankly, that was something we could we could and we did negotiate. Players that were complaining? They had every right to complain—especially if you were a seven or an eight seed. No play-in and you would be relaxing right now, I get it. But there were teams that had a chance to be able to make it that felt differently. The only thing I’m concerned about is when we do have a voice in making decisions, those decisions are made by the governing body not Michele Roberts. Everything is run past the players and there is a direction that’s provided to the union. Will everybody in the union agree with it? Of course not. That’s okay. We’re not a monolith. Q: There were definitely some players who wouldn’t have complained if they were the fifth seed. Michele Roberts: That’s probably true. The players that complain about it are largely players in it. They’re saying If not for this nonsense I’d be at home enjoying a glass of wine. But I have no problem with that level of discontent, because it’s genuine.
Play-in games here to stay?
As if the competitive component weren’t enough to support it going forward, the play-in tournament also provides the league with a valuable product that offers novelty and appeal in the NBA’s next negotiation with broadcast partners. That might not translate to life-changing money for the NBA, but that revenue combined with some exciting midweek visibility featuring stars such as LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook, Jayson Tatum, LaMelo Ball and Ja Morant makes for an appealing promotional opportunity that pays for itself. James might not be a fan, but league sources say the play-in is likely here to stay.
Lakers-Warriors most-watched ESPN NBA broadcast since 2019 WCF
Kendra Andrews: Steve Kerr: “This is a bitter pill to swallow. This was our game and we couldn’t get it done.” Says the game was lost in the third quarter.
Lakers beat Warriors for a playoff spot
Mark Medina: The Lakers escape with a 103-100 win over the Warriors, & the purple confetti is dropping at Staples Center. Lakers have the 7th seed and face the second-seeded Phoenix Suns in the first round. The Warriors face the Grizzlies on Friday for the final playoff spot.
CJ McCollum: Very good game. NBA won tonight.
Damian Lillard: Draymond is a mf
Michael Wallace: Grizz-Warriors again Friday at 8pm, for second meeting this week.
Grizzlies to play for a playoff spot
Grizzlies center Jonas Valanciunas positioned himself to go up for the opening tipoff with his right hand then slyly used his left hand – while hooking Spurs center Jonas Valanciunas with his right hand – to bat the ball to Memphis’ side. The Grizzlies were a step ahead of San Antonio nearly all night, winning the 9-10 play-in game 100-96 Wednesday at home. Memphis will travel to face the loser of Lakers-Warriors on Friday to determine the No. 8 seed. The Grizzlies are gaining major experience in these single-elimination play-in games, having lost to the Trail Blazers last year.
When Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James said the person who created the play-in game should be fired, Evan Wasch’s phone began lighting up with calls and texts. Wasch is the NBA’s executive vice president of basketball strategy and analytics. He recently told Yahoo! Sports’ Chris Haynes that he is not the play-in game inventor. It is an idea that predates his time at the NBA, and several people contributed to the idea. He is more like the curator of the play-in format, and despite James’ wishes, Wasch – or anyone else – won’t be fired. At least not for the play-in game idea.
Pacers advance in Play-in Tournament after beating Charlotte
Scott Agness: Pacers pummel the Hornets 144-117 to advance to a second play-in game, at loser of Celtics/Wizards. +16 after 1 +24 at half. Never trailed, once led by 39. Eight in double figures. Brissett scored a game-high 23pts. Sabonis had 14-21-9 Brogdon returned, scored 16 in 21mins.
Dillon Brooks: We are not ready to go to Cabo
But did you know that another tournament-style event could be added to the NBA schedule? According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, league executives could opt to add a mid-season tournament once things settle back down to normal. “I think the play-in tournament is gonna be there in the future. And I think you’re gonna hear more conversation moving forward about a mid-season tournament. But I think that’s once we get out of this shortened season and get back to a normal 82-game schedule that’s on a regular NBA calendar.”
Grizzlies raise attendance capacity for Play-in game
The Memphis Grizzlies will have more fans in attendance at FedEx Forum for the Western Conference play-in game after it was announced Monday it will increase to approximate 40% capacity. Attendance has been at roughly 20% capacity since March 10 when the Grizzlies returned from All-Star break. The Grizzlies will face the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday (6:30 p.m., ESPN) in front of close to 7,000 fans as opposed to 3,500.
“There’s been a lot going on for a couple of weeks now and trying to figure out what the right, safe but increased capacity would be,” Grizzlies president Jason Wexler said. “Ultimately we got to the 40% level by creating a distancing environment that was three feet in every direction as opposed to six feet.”
Jared Weiss: Stevens says he is approaching this play-in like a Thursday-Sunday NCAA tournament schedule. “The Thursday game, you’re more prepared for than the Saturday game…The one day turnaround in a situation like this is how can we get what we get?”
Eric Walden: Rudy Gobert, on the play-in tournament: “Those games are gonna be fun to watch. I’m excited to watch those games. And whoever we face, it’s gonna be a long journey, and we’re gonna be ready.”
Meghan Triplett: “I don’t look for extra motivation….I’m motivated enough!…” -Jonas Valanciunas on taking on the Spurs in the Play-In after missing the last two matchups against them earlier in the season
Melissa Rohlin: Steve Kerr on the potential that the Lakers and Warriors will meet in the play-in, setting up a head to head contest bw Steph Curry & LeBron James:”You’re talking about two of the greatest players of all-time… Of course, four meetings in The Finals is going to create a rivalry.”
Stephen Curry leads Warriors to clinch eighth seed
Nick Friedell: It’s over. The Warriors are the eighth seed in the West thanks to a 113-101 win over the Grizzlies. Steph finishes with 46 points. The Warriors will play either the Lakers or the Blazers on the road on Wednesday night in the 7/8 game.
Tom Orsborn: DeMar says Wednesday at Memphis will be the “epitome of win or go home.” His advice to the young guys? “Understanding it’s no, ‘My bads.’ No mistakes. You’ve got to be close to perfect to pull out a victory. It’s definitely going to be the definition of a dog fight.”
Fred Katz: Scott Brooks, who has previously professed his love for the play-in tournament, says he’s changed his mind now that the Wizards have finished in eighth place: “I’m with the King,” he said. “Who created this play-in thing? Whoever did that, they need to be fired.”
Play-in Tournament matchups set in the Eastern Conference
Chris Forsberg: Wizards top Hornets. So it’s set: (7) Celtics vs. (8) Wizards, Tuesday night, in play-in opener. Winner is the 7th seed in East; loser plays the 9/10 winner on Thursday to be 8th seed.
Tony East: Pacers win 125-113. Brissett, McDermott, and Sabonis were all tremendous in this final regular season game. Pacers finish 9th in the East and will host the loser of Charlotte and Washington on Tuesday.
Kelly Oubre out for the Play-in Tournament
As his Golden State Warriors prepare for Sunday’s all-important, regular-season finale against the Memphis Grizzlies, Warriors coach Steve Kerr wants his team to have a clear mindset about exactly how much is at stake. With a win, the Warriors will finish the regular season with a 39-33 record, a game ahead of the Grizzlies for the eighth spot in the Western Conference — allowing for an easier path into postseason play. “We’re really looking at this [as] we’ve got to win two out of our next three games,” Kerr said after Saturday’s practice. “So basically that starts tomorrow; so, in effect tomorrow is a playoff game. And we’ve got to win two before we lose two. That’s what it comes down to out of the next three. Like a little miniseries from the old days in the early ’80s.”
Ian Begley: The Knicks can clinch the No. 4 seed and a first-round matchup with the Hawks if they beat Boston tomorrow afternoon. If New York loses to Boston tomorrow and the Hawks and Heat win their games on Sunday night, the Knicks would finish 6th in the East.
Nick Friedell: Steph said he understands the conversation on both sides of the play-in tournament debate: “It will be interesting to see if it lasts beyond this year when we get back to an 82-game schedule. I don’t think it will, but this year it is what it is …”
Mark Medina: LeBron James on the Lakers either being a sixth seed or being in the play-in tournament : “Let the chips fall where they may be. We’ll be ready to go.”
Tom Orsborn: Drew Eubanks on Wednesday’s play-in game: “I look forward to the challenge, winner take all. We’ve got no pressure going into it. I feel like anyone we play has more to lose than we do, and we have guys resting, so they will be fully charged, ready to go on Wednesday.
Lakers keep 6th seed hopes alive after beating Indiana
Tim Bontemps: With Charlotte and Indiana losing this afternoon, things tomorrow are pretty simple at the bottom of the Eastern Conference: the winner of Charlotte-Washington finishes eighth; if Indiana wins at Toronto it finishes ninth; if it loses, it finishes 10th. East play-ins are Tuesday.
Mike Trudell: Clippers just assured that they can’t face the Lakers in Round 1. If they lose their final game (at OKC), they are the 4. If they win and DEN loses at POR, LAC are the 3, and LAL are in the play-in going for No. 7 w/POR the 6 at worst. If DEN wins at POR, DEN is the 3.
JD Shaw: Here is the schedule for the 2021 NBA Play-In Tournament. Times are still TBD: pic.twitter.com/iYzoodatHJ
There were game cancellations and stars lost and empty arenas, but the NBA made it to the 2021 playoffs without a bubble. Silver delivered something of a pep talk and challenge to his top basketball executives recently, sources said, declaring ahead of the experimental play-in tournament: “We are in a transformational period,” and reminding all, “We have to earn viewers.”
Fred Katz: Wizards owner Ted Leonsis says he is an “unabashed fan” of the NBA’s. play-in tournament.
“It does us no good to hold on to this game and go out there and not be locked in for the next one,” Lillard said. “We have to move on and make sure we handle our business at home. … I think the position we are in, it makes it pretty easy for us, because that (Denver) game becomes more important than this (Phoenix) game now. We have a few days in between, so we can go home and relax and just move past it. I wish we were playing (Friday) so we can just go ahead and get it over with. But like I said, with this loss, the game on Sunday becomes our most important game of the season.”
“It’s crucial,” McCollum said Thursday, referencing avoiding the play-in. “Being able to get some rest is extremely important. You don’t want to limp into the postseason. We played in the play-in game in the past and had a short turnaround, and that led to a lot of fatigue, and then we ended up having some injuries in the playoffs. So I would love to be able to work on my game a couple days and not have to play in an actual game. Be able to practice some stuff. And I’m sure the coaches would like to go over some stuff as opposed to preparing for a game every day. I think the teams that are able to get a break are happy about it and will use that to their advantage.”
Anthony Slater: It’s official: Warriors-Grizzlies on Sunday in SF will be for the #8 seed. Winner gets it, loser falls to #9 and the worse side of the play-in. Tomorrow’s games carry zero importance.
Frank Vogel: It looks unlikely Lakers will avoid play-in tournament
Duane Rankin: Frank Vogel said although it “looks unlikely” that #Lakers will reach top six to avoid play-in tournament, but is looking to give themselves “a chance” to do it. Losing to #Suns tonight certainly won’t help their cause. Talon Horton-Tucker (calf) game-time decision.
Bill Oram: Frank Vogel said: “I’m unafraid of the play-in tournament with this team, I feel that we can beat anybody.” BUT he says the Lakers still want to finish in the top-6. Too many variables otherwise. Says any silver lining of getting extra games in play-in is “minimal.”
Tim Reynolds: The Blazers-Lakers loser tonight not only will be in 7th in the West, a game behind the winner, but will have lost the head-to-head tiebreaker. So in essence, tonight’s loser will be two games behind the other with five games left. Seems like a big game.
If this sounds familiar, it is. The play-in tournament’s value became a full-fledged storyline in April when Luka Doncic and Mark Cuban griped about the new circumstances for 7-seeds in each conference. And there is indeed a shared sentiment among coaches and team executives contacted by Bleacher Report that a play-in structure where just the 8-seed battles the winner of the 9- and 10-seeds would be preferred to this current format—specifically the fact that 7-seeds will start the tournament by playing the 8-seed for their own rightful spot after 72 games. “What if the 7-seed has a four-game lead on 8? And now it’s gonna almost be like Game 7 of the Finals, win or go home? It’s not really fair,” said one Eastern Conference executive. “Anything can happen. And someone can get hurt.”
Duane Rankin: “So maybe they can figure out a way, if you’re in the play-in tournament, and it’s just kind of goofy, but it’s the way my head works. If you make it into the playoffs, you start down a game or something like that.” Monty Williams’ play-in idea that’d reward 1-2 seeds. #Suns pic.twitter.com/3cbiXy5EYU
LeBron James criticizes play-in tournament
Dave McMenamin: LeBron James on the play-in tournament: “Whoever came up with that s— needs to be fired”
Fred Katz: Scott Brooks says he loves the play-in tournament. Says he thinks it’s made the league more competitive and has helped with tanking: “Even if we weren’t in this position and we were at the fifth or sixth spot, I think you should try to make it as competitive as you can.”
Connor Letourneau: Steve Kerr on the play-in-tournament implications of tonight’s game against the Mavericks: “If we were to win tonight, I think we’d have a realistic shot at catching Dallas because we’d have the tie-breaker.”
Play-in tournament to become permanent?
The future of the play-in tournament, which was adopted on a one-year trial basis, is a huge key. But given the impact it’s already made, league sources expect easy approval to make it permanent. “Based on what we’ve seen in terms of team behavior the last few years—the competitiveness on the court and the competitiveness in the standings—we’re pleased with the early results of both the lottery change and the play-in tournament,” said Wasch.
According to Wasch, the biggest gap a team has overcome to make the playoffs, with 15 games left in a season, is four games. (It’s happened twice.) So the league is using that four-game gap as the gauge for “still in contention.” And when the league hit the 15-game mark last week, 24 teams were either firmly in the playoff field or, at worst, within four games of 10th place. Yes, league officials looked it up. And yes, they’re quite pleased with that stat—and with the rules changes that fostered it.
Melissa Rohlin: Coach Doc Rivers on the play-in format: “I love it,” he said. “…I think it keeps more teams involved. I think it’s a good change.
“I thought it was funny that Mark Cuban, who I absolutely love, pushed it,” New Orleans Pelicans coach Stan Van Gundy said. “Not only did he vote for it, but he pushed it. And now that they’re sitting where they are, they don’t like it.”
His parting shot shot at Cuban aside, Van Gundy preached the importance of adapting to the circumstances than worrying about the pros and cons of the play-in tournament format. “It doesn’t matter what I think,” Van Gundy said. “We’re trying to get in it. So what my own personal thing is on what they should or should not have done with that doesn’t even matter. I don’t think about it. We’re trying to get in it. So that’s what is important to me.”
Or take the eight, nine and 10 seeds – Memphis, Golden State and San Antonio. The eight seed just has to win one play-in game and the ninth and 10th seeds has to win twice. It’s easy to see why those teams would rather end up in seventh or eighth place. “For us, it’s awesome,” Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said. “For the league, it creates a lot of excitement and competition. I know they’re studying that and they’ll figure out how that makes sense moving forward. But hopefully we give ourselves a great chance in the last 20 games to keep getting better and make a push for the playoffs.”
Josh Lewenberg: VanVleet on the play-in: “If we’re not in it then it’s stupid & it was a bad decision… But if somehow we make the play-in then obviously that type of mentality is not gonna work for you. I see both sides of it… I hope they make all the money they were looking to make off it”
So Steph Curry — what do you think about the play-in format? “I like the opportunity that’s in front of us,” the two-time NBA MVP told ESPN’s Rachel Nichols. “We have an opportunity to make this season mean something down the stretch because of the play-in. The opportunity of peaking at the right time. I’m sure there are gonna be a lot of opinions on it, and we’ll see how it plays out. But I’m with it.”
June 3, 2023 | 7:24 pm EDT Update
Terry Stotts heads back to Milwaukee as assistant
Adrian Wojnarowski: Terry Stotts is finalizing a deal to join Adrian Griffin’s new coaching staff with the Milwaukee Bucks, sources tell ESPN. Stotts won 402 games and made eight straight playoff trips as Portland’s coach. He was the Bucks’ coach for 146 games, ending in 2007.
Phoenix Suns associate head coach Kevin Young is staying with the franchise on a new $2 million annual deal that’ll make him the NBA’s highest-paid assistant coach, sources told ESPN on Saturday. The Suns were determined to keep Young on new coach Frank Vogel’s staff and made a significant commitment to keep him from following former coach Monty Williams to the Detroit Pistons, sources said.
Fast-forward four years, and they’re teammates on a No. 8-seed Heat team that has clawed its way to the NBA Finals. Highsmith still remembers the lessons Butler imparted to him in Philadelphia. “Working out twice a day, three times a day, which he would do sometimes,” he says. “Also understanding your body, not pushing it too far where you’re feeling not the best. Maintaining good diet as well.”
Clutch Points: Jeff Green says Kevin Garnett helped him become more vocal: “When I was with Boston, I didn’t talk much, I was very quiet. But now, I can’t stop talking, so I guess to a small extent, I’m like [Kevin Garnett]. I think being vocal is big… He used to tell me all the time, ‘you gotta speak up. You gotta talk. You gotta talk!’” (via @TomerAzarly) pic.twitter.com/luG9VkTeJZ
Nick DePaula: The Joker debuted the upcoming Nike GT Jump 2 today at #NBAFinals practice 👀👀 pic.twitter.com/TCnFC6Gc3d
June 3, 2023 | 6:30 pm EDT Update
James Borrego will be top assistant for Pelicans
Adrian Wojnarowski: ESPN Sources: James Borrego has agreed to become New Orleans’ associate head coach. Borrego spent four seasons as Charlotte’s head coach, including back-to-back play-in berths. Pelicans are eager to incorporate his offensive philosophy.
Jake Fischer: James Borrego was in the mix with Brooklyn, Milwaukee, Dallas in addition to NOLA. Kevin Ollie also drew interest from the Pelicans. With Terry Stotts another Bucks associate candidate, Frank Vogel’s signing in Phoenix has seemed to start the next layer of this coaching carousel.
