All the more reason to not have the play-in when there are terrible teams in it.
Butler's injury had nothing to do with the play-in. He had a wide open lay-up but decided to wait for the defender to go up and Butler's jump into contact. It was a typical Butler dirty play to get an and-one. Play stupid games, you get stupid prizes, and his was an injury.
It was an extra game that was only being played because of the play-in
Play better in the regular season & you don't have to deal with the play-in game.
They were 7 games clear of the Bulls and won 46 games. The Bulls belong no where near the playoffs
That is true for the East but in the West, it was much different. There is no right or wrong answer regarding the play-in. I don't really like it either. But Butler getting hurt doesn't prove anything.
Didn't you post that you thought ATL was going to get the #8 slot? I agree that a team (ATL) who is 10 games back of MIA, shouldn't be able to get into the playoffs by winning 1 game. But in the west, GSW and SAC both won 46 games. The other side of the argument is that they deserve a shot at the playoffs.
As I've said elsewhere, I have no problem worh the play-in in the West, I'd just out some parameters on it for teams to qualify. I think within 6 games of a playoff team if you have under 40 wins. If you win 40 games or are within 6 games of a team the play-in happens. There may be years where 0, 1, or 2 teams qualify and that is fine by me. The play-in should be used in situations where teams are close and in a way you feel bad if a team doesn't have a shot. So out west nothing changes this year, while in East no play in games this year. I would not extend it past 2 extra teams (sorry Houston).
The league needs to stop rewarding bad teams and punishing good teams.
I think the bad teams part is way over blown. Besides a few detractors, and some yet-to-materialize what-if scenarios, I think the play-in is considered a resounding success by the league, media, and the vast majority of teams and fans.
The play-in works because the threat of missing the playoffs has improved the regular season by keeping teams from mailing it in during the final weeks/months. If Chicago/Atlanta were disqualified due to the gap in wins, the entire threat of missing the playoffs is eliminated, which is the only thing that makes it work.
In it's brief history, the play-in so far has accomplished the following:
Keeps the regular season competitive for longer for more teams.
Keeps the regular season interesting longer for more fans.
Makes it much harder to manipulate the standings for a favorable playoff match up.
Rewards teams 1-6 with a week off.
Has consistently pulled in high ratings every year.
The worst play-in team to ever make the playoffs (36-46 Pelicans in '22) were still able to take a 64-win team to a 6 game series.
It seems like the play-in has improved the entire product in multiple ways (more engagement, more revenue).
Where is the downside? A hypothetical terrible first round match up? Seems like an acceptable trade off.
When did I say they should get rid of the play-in? I said it should be modified to not allow bad teams. If you are 7 games out of the 8th spot and well below .500, you shouldn't have a chance to make the playoffs. That doesn't seem unreasonable at all.
2023 - no change, all 4 teams in
2022 - east no change, west pelicans 6 back of Clippers in, but Spurs 8 back are out (so 7th seeded Wolves not in play-in)
In that 2022 scenario, I'd make the Pelicans have to beat the Clippers twice in LA, while the Clippers only need 1 win
2021 - 4 teams in (Spurs just barely at 6 games back)
2020 - no play-in in east, 2 teams in out west
2019 - no play-in in west, 2 teams in east
2018 - 1 team in east, 2 teams in west
2017 - 1 team in west, 2 teams in east
2016 - 1 team in west, 2 teams in east
It is similar all the way through and most of the teams that were out, were close enough that they could have made it in had the result of the last game been different. You still get interest, you still get more teams to care, but you ultimately end up with a better product in the actual playoffs. That should be the goal.