NBA: the “Play-in” format definitively validated

The NBA definitively validated, on Tuesday, the installation of the “Play-in” tournament, a system of playoff accession dams, which allows more franchises to hope to qualify at the end of the regular season.

After two successful attempts, the owners of NBA franchises definitively validated the playoff accession system on Tuesday.

This format, inaugurated for the 2021 playoffs, has been tested in the last two seasons, allowing franchises finishing between 7th and 10th place in their conference to compete for two places in the playoffs.

Previously, the top eight ranked teams in each conference at the end of the regular season qualified directly for the playoffs. The new format makes it possible to maintain the suspense until the end of the regular season for more franchises, four per conference.

According to this formula, the teams ranked 7th and 8th at the end of the regular season meet and the winner qualifies directly for the playoffs. The loser meets the winner of the match between the clubs ranked in 9th and 10th position, and the last ticket for the final stages goes to the winner of this duel.

For the 2022-2023 season, the “Play-in” tournament will take place from April 11 to 14, between the end of the regular season on April 9 and the start of the playoffs on April 15, the NBA said.