Adam Silver: Nuggets-Timberwolves Has NBA Considering Play-In Games
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver met with the media Friday and said that the Minnesota Timberwolves' dramatic 112-106 overtime win over the Denver Nuggets in Wednesday's regular-season finale emphasized why the league has considered installing play-in games to determine final playoff spots.
Speaking at the league's Board of Governors meetings, Silver said the win-or-go-home showdown generated "continued interest" in the idea, according to the New York Times' Malika Andrews.
ESPN.com's Zach Lowe first reported in February that there was "behind-the-scenes momentum for the idea of a play-in tournament determining the last two seeds in each conference."
Lowe added one proposal, in particular, had become the focus of discussion in league circles.
That scenario, according to Lowe, would feature "two four-team tournaments featuring the seventh, eighth, ninth, and 10th seeds in each conference. The seventh seed would host the eighth seed, with the winner of that single game nabbing the seventh spot, sources say. Meanwhile, the ninth seed would host the 10th seed, with the winner of that game facing the loser of the 7-versus-8 matchup for the final playoff spot."
However, Lowe cautioned a play-in tournament isn't on the horizon and may never be formally approved.
LeBron James, who was informed of the concept in March, called it "wack."
"You've got to earn your spot to be in the postseason," he told reporters. "No consolation for finishing last. That’s corny."
