Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James, popularly known as the surface of this National Basketball Association, lambasted the league’s decision to institute a play-in championship this year, getting the most recent high-profile participant to speak out openly against the newest format.
Speaking of this play-in championship, James told reporters,”Whoever came up with this sh-t has to be dismissed,” after the Lakers loss to the Toronto Raptors Sunday night.
The defeat to Toronto fell L.A. to a tie with the Portland Trail Blazers for the No. 7 seed in the Western Convention.
James, who missed six weeks of action because of a ideal ankle sprain before returning to the lineup on Friday, re-aggravated the harm Sunday.
The ankle issue might sideline him for Monday’s matchup against the Denver Nuggets, as James clarified he would prioritize becoming as near 100% wholesome as possible over hurrying back to enhance the Lakers postseason seeding.
KEY BACKGROUND:
Before the pandemic, the top eight seeds in each conference would be eligible to the playoffs at the end of every regular season. But before the beginning of this 2020-21 effort, the team’s Board of Governors unanimously approved a proposal to execute a play-in championship on a one-year foundation in hopes the new format could create greater interest among many fanbases and create earnings from additional win-or-go-home competitions. Just the best six seeds in each conference are ensured a postseason berth this season. The teams that finish in seven through 10 areas will take part in the play-in tourney. The winners of this tournament will get the 7th and 8th slots. Last month, Dallas Mavericks celebrity Luka Doncic said:”I do not know the notion of a play-in,” including,”You play 72 games to get into the playoffs, and then perhaps you lose two in a row, and you are from the playoffs. So I really don’t see the purpose of this.” Mavs owner Mark Cuban echoed similar sentiments fourteen days afterwards, telling ESPN that”in hindsight, that this strategy proved to be a huge mistake” primarily because of this year’s compressed program, which contributes to gamers”playing more matches and more moments in fewer times.” In early April, Warriors ahead Draymond Green stated,”fighting to get a play-in place doesn’t inspire me”
CONTRA:
Daryl Morey, the Philadelphia 76ers president of basketball operations, appeared to shield the newest format Monday morning. At a mocking conversation, Morey wrote,”I can not feel the NBA reluctantly implemented a change which makes games more meaningful and interesting,” over a gif of a scene out of The Big Lebowski.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR:
The play-In championship will start on May 18 and finish on May 21. The NBA Playoffs will formally commence 1 day after. Last summer, commissioner Adam Silver noted that the revised postseason arrangement is”something we want to see ”
SURPRISING FACT:
The New York Knicks will perform past the normal season after for the first time because 2013. At worst, the Knickerbockers will take part in the play-in tourney after this season, but with New York currently sitting at the 4-seed at the East, they’re expected to property in one of the top six slots. During the previous month, the Knicks have gone 12-3 while submitting the best Offensive and Web Rating from the whole league.
BIG NUMBER:
24. This was the amount of teams which had already ensured themselves a playoff berth or had a opportunity to qualify to the play-in tourney in the last week. “Twenty-four is the greatest we have ever had, at the history of this team, with a month left,” Evan Wasch, the NBA’s executive vice president of basketball analytics and strategy, told Sports Illustrated.
FURTHER READING:
LeBron James struggles sore ankle as disappointed Los Angeles Lakers lose again (ESPN)