OUR REFLECTIONS

The format of the NBA season/playoffs has barely changed in my lifetime, and I'm pretty old. 82 games in a season, 16 teams in the playoffs, east vs west and so on... 

As with anything, many were resistant to change when the rumours of a 'Play-In' tournament surfaced following 'The Bubble' back in 2020. Now that the Lakers have been crowned, and the first-ever tournament is complete, here are some reflection points: 

It's good for the fans 

Apart from the hype of the first couple of weeks, and the 'prime-time' matchups, I'm a 'post All-Star' kinda guy. Not anymore. The Play-In was entertaining, pretty competitive (for the most part) and gave me an incentive to get the most out of my NBA Season Pass during the months when I usually just check headlines and watch highlights. 

It's good for the players 

As well as the incentive of a financial boost, their participation doesn't detract from their regular season standings - it counts towards it. With the outcome also ultimately determining some of the post-season standings, too - I think that the league did a good job of making this work for the players. 

It's good for the future of NBA basketball 

Most other team competitions worldwide have a variety of tournaments that happen throughout their season. It's no secret that some of these trophies are more sought after than others, so we shouldn't be surprised that some will scoff at this achievement compared with lifting the Larry O'Brien. Of course, it wouldn't (and definitely shouldn't) replace that, but it will serve as a confidence booster for the Lakers this year. I'm pretty sure that the Pacers will have good reason to feel good about this year's inaugural competition as well as the rest of their season. 

See you next year!