The NBA Play-In tournament is set to commence on April 16. Eight teams across both Conferences are set to battle it out to determine the final four Playoff spots. The first day of the Play-In tournament will see the four teams in the Western Conference matchup against each other. LeBron James’ LA Lakers will face off against the New Orleans Pelicans, while the Golden State Warriors meet the Sacramento Kings in what is a repeat of last year’s first-round matchup.
The second day will see teams from the Eastern Conference face each other. Miami Heat will take on the Philadelphia 76ers in a seventh vs eight seed matchup, while the Atlanta Hawks and the Chicago Bulls lock horns in a ninth vs tenth seed battle. After both these matchdays, the seventh seed in both conferences will be decided, which leaves two playoff spots. The third day of the NBA Play-In tournament will be to decide that as losers from the seventh vs eighth seed matchup go up against the winners of the ninth vs tenth seed game from their respective conferences.
This nail-biting structure is what has made the Play-In tournament a grand success. Not only does it make the regular season standings more important, but it also adds excitement in build-up to the postseason.
NBA Play-In tournament winners have made some deep runs in the Playoffs
The NBA Play-In tournament was first introduced in the 2019-20 season. However, it was only between the eighth and ninth seeds [only if the two teams were four games of each other.] This was later worked upon and re-introduced in the format that it is now. Last season the Miami Heat and the LA Lakers both were in the Play-In tournament and were able to make a deep playoff push.
This time yet again, there are some exciting teams in the NBA Play-In tournament. LeBron James and Steph Curry have both faced off against each other in the tournament and it is possible that it could happen again this season. Meanwhile in the East, the Heat are once again Play-In bound. However, it is not wise to count them out as they are more than capable of taking opponents down on their day.
Which Play-In team could make a deep playoff run this season?
The LA Lakers competed in the Play-In season last season and came out of it as the seventh seed. This year they have a chance to do that again, but this will set them up against the Denver Nuggets in the first round. The Purple and Gold were swept 4-0 in the Conference Finals by the team from the Mile High City last season.
Although they would want to seek revenge for that defeat, the Lakers know that going up against the Nuggets is not going to be easy. They have Nikola Jokic, who is looking set to grab his third MVP trophy this season. Leading the Lakers from the front are two great players, LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Both will be looking to put their best foot forward to help the Lakers get past the Nuggets.
Undoubtedly, the Nuggets are going to be a tough matchup, but if the Lakers get the better of them this time, it could mean a deep playoff run for them. The West is certainly competitive, but there is no player more capable of getting past these challenges that the four-time NBA champion LeBron James.
