Unlike the others, tradition has come: the NBA play-in tournament. Or, as he deserves to be called, Atlanta Hawks Invitational.
For an unprecedented year, Hawks were entitled to participate in this four -day MID tournament, which serves as the border line between NBA’s real teams and really bad teams.
(Can we get a minute to celebrate Milwaukee Bucks and Denver Nuggets while thinking about the real teams of the NBA?
Okay, let’s pause the Punchline machine for a moment to explain how the game tournament works and how it is.
When the COVİD-19 drowned the world and brought the 2019–20 NBA season to a sudden stop, the league hits an idea when preparing to finish the normal season and to host the playoffs in the Walt Disney World balloon. The eighth seed team would have to win only once, but the ninth seed team would have to win twice.
The Eastern Conference did not require such a playoff, but the West did and Portland 8 attracted Memphis number 9 in a game. And apparently marketing was an idea in heaven.
Before the 2020-21 season, the NBA decided to try the format that remained in force today: Seed 7 and 8 was collected and the winning conference won seeds on the playoffs. The seed number 9 and 10 meets, then the winner of the winning 7-8 games is receiving for the right to be a seed number 8.
This year, in the East, the first round of the right to confront Boston Celtics on Tuesday 7 Orlando (41-41) and 8 atlanta (40-42) JOUS, while the number 9 Chicago (39-43) and 10 Miami (37-45) Miami (37-45) to meet the best Clenda Cavaliers.
In the West, the Golden State 7 (48-34) and 8 Memphis (48-34) Fight to confront Houston on Tuesday, the Sacramento (40-42) and the Dallas 10 (39-43) to be Oklahoma City Thunder’s first round.
Now, most years, the game tournament looks like a fool business and feels. Most of these teams should focus on collecting NBA draft lottery balls instead of play-in participation medals.
But this year may actually be different – especially at the Western Conference.
You have noticed that a few paragraphs, Golden State and Memphis have finished the normal season 48-34. This is the first round of the winner for the winner between Warriors and Grizzlies on Tuesday, the seed 2 is less than the Houston Rockets.
Reflecting Warriors or Grizzlies, which upset the rockets in the seven best first round series, would not dream much, which would go through the first round of a game tournament graduate.
The most famous, 2023 Miami Heat (led by Jimmy Butler) lasted the number 8 to the NBA finals. But there is a star sign that depends on this success. Giannis Anthetokounmpo wounded his back in the first quarter of the game 1 and did not return to 4. Until then, Heat went ahead 2-1 and won the next two to close the first round series.
It doesn’t make sense to wait for Lightning to shoot like this again. However, hey, one of the reasons for watching sports is to enjoy a magnificent show of light, no matter how random or possible.
Two months later, it would be surprising that the NBA commissioner Adam Silver climbed the steps on a temporary platform, looked directly at a camera, and declared the Larry O’Brien cup that he was very pleased to hand over to the Atlanta Hawks Point Guard Trae Young.
At that time, this season would really deserve to be known as Atlanta Hawks Invitational.
