LeBron James: Creator of Play-In Tournament 'Needs to Be Fired'

[kawhileonard2]

https://www.si.com/nba/2021/05/03/lebron-rips-play-in-tournament-needs-to-be-fired



LeBron James criticized the league's new play-in tournament format.

"Whoever came up with that s--- needs to be fired," James said.

With the defeat, Los Angeles fell to 36–28 and No. 6 in the standings due to losing the tiebreaker over Dallas and holding it over Portland.

New this year, being No. 7 doesn't guarantee a team a first-round playoff series. Instead, the NBA will hold a play-in tournament in which the Nos. 7 and 8 teams face off and teams seeded Nos. 9 and 10 will also play.

The winner of the 7/8 game in each conference will earn the No. 7 seed. The loser of the 7/8 game will then host the winner of the 9/10 game in a play-in game, with the winner of that game in each conference earning the No. 8 seed.


The NBA Tanking Era Is Over As We Know It

The Lakers have now lost six of their last seven games, including both games since James returned to the court.

James was held out the final six minutes, 42 seconds on Sunday after experiencing soreness in his right ankle. He finished the game with 19 points, seven rebounds and six assists in 29 minutes.

James is not alone in voicing his recent criticism over the new format. In mid-April, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban called the addition of the play-in tournament an "enormous mistake."

The NBA board of governors, which includes Cuban, had unanimously approved the implementation of the play-in tournament this offseason.

James himself has also expressed varying sentiments about a possible format change. Ahead of the NBA bubble last summer, James floated the idea of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference being decided through a short series. Previously in 2018, though, James called the idea "wack."

"You’ve got to earn your spot to be in the postseason," he said. "No consolation for finishing last. That’s corny.”

[bison]

Dumbass lebron. The play in tourney is the only reason why he even has a shot at making the playoffs this year :facepalm:

[Legend248]

Bump....where you ****** bronsexuals at? Yall talk so much shit but now you hide when people speak facts to you? **** YALL IN HERE THAT LOVE LEBUM!!! IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ME DM ME....

[plowking]

Agreed. Worst system ever.

[Spurs m8]

Bump....where you ****** bronsexuals at? Yall talk so much shit but now you hide when people speak facts to you? **** YALL IN HERE THAT LOVE LEBUM!!! IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ME DM ME....

The cowards are always either hiding or gaslighting

[GimmeThat]

the guy created it figured "not everyone is going to understand multiple sports, and that's normal, because the complexity of learning one single sport is beyond my ability....... PLAY-IN, I GOT IT, a PLAY-IN TOURNAMENT, PROBLEM SOLVED!!!"

[8Ball]

Bump....where you ****** bronsexuals at? Yall talk so much shit but now you hide when people speak facts to you? **** YALL IN HERE THAT LOVE LEBUM!!! IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ME DM ME....

Meltdown

[Baller789]

Meltdown

Did you DM him like he wanted?

[tpols]

It is kind of bogus that a team can outplay another all season long and get a 7 seed but then get bounced by a shitty 10 seed that only has to get say.. hot from 3 for one game. I could see if an 8 and a 9 seed have the same record to have a play in game to break the tie... that would be fair. But this format is bogus.

[Shaquille O'Neal]

The whole thing is stupid. For the bubble / shortened year I got it. For a full 82 game season, no.

[Baller789]

It is kind of bogus that a team can outplay another all season long and get a 7 seed but then get bounced by a shitty 10 seed that only has to get say.. hot from 3 for one game. I could see if an 8 and a 9 seed have the same record to have a play in game to break the tie... that would be fair. But this format is bogus.

NBA playoffs in itself is boring because in a best 7, rarely do upsets happen. If it does it's mostly bec. of injuries.

Baksetball teams themselves are heavily influenced by a single superstar moreso than any other major team game. It makes it utterly predictable.

[FKAri]

Bump....where you ****** bronsexuals at? Yall talk so much shit but now you hide when people speak facts to you? **** YALL IN HERE THAT LOVE LEBUM!!! IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ME DM ME....

Wrong thread bro

[kawhileonard2]

Dumbass lebron. The play in tourney is the only reason why he even has a shot at making the playoffs this year :facepalm:

Yep

[Axe]

It is kind of bogus that a team can outplay another all season long and get a 7 seed but then get bounced by a shitty 10 seed that only has to get say.. hot from 3 for one game. I could see if an 8 and a 9 seed have the same record to have a play in game to break the tie... that would be fair. But this format is bogus.
2021 play-ins aka losers bracket still giving thurston a lot of nightmares these days :roll:

[Full Court]

I agree with Bronie on this one. I hate the concept of the play-in. You either made the playoff or you didn't. It kind of cheapens the whole playoff thing.

[Nilocon165]

Bump....where you ****** bronsexuals at? Yall talk so much shit but now you hide when people speak facts to you? **** YALL IN HERE THAT LOVE LEBUM!!! IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ME DM ME....
Holy shit :lol

Nobody’s more embarrassing than Bron haters when it comes to sports fans

[Spurs m8]

I agree with Bronie on this one. I hate the concept of the play-in. You either made the playoff or you didn't. It kind of cheapens the whole playoff thing.

It's classic of Silver, though.

Dollars over integrity

[kawhileonard2]

I agree with Bronie on this one. I hate the concept of the play-in. You either made the playoff or you didn't. It kind of cheapens the whole playoff thing.

Point is is that he would be in the play in this year, so should he boycott it and just the top 8 make it and forget about us?

[2much_knowledge]

Watch him push for that guy who came up with idea get a raise this year lol

[Gohan]

I dont think even the lebron haters can refute hes telling the truth. Just a retarded idea period

[Lakers Legend#32]

Lakers trying their best to play their way out of the play in games.

Now if only the Spurs would start winning.

[Replay32]

He's right. I agree with him. The play in is dumb. Golden State should of made the playoffs last year

[BarberSchool]

The biggest reasons it exists are financial/economic. To discourage tanking is also economic since ticket sales and TV revenue for tanking teams plummets.

1. Every additional regional market who the NBA can “draw in” to watching the playoffs and it’s intensity, created a higher likelihood for those casual fans to continue watching more playoff games, even if their team loses the play in. Because the intensity of the play-ins rivals any other playoff series game 7. Watching basketball at its highest intensity is obvious and addictive, and that’s why NCAA tourney and NBA playoffs get such high viewership/ratings, even amongst casual fans. More markets watching equals more total revenue.

2. It discourages tanking, by creating more opportunities for more teams to get into the post-season mix. This also helps to prevent fanbase disengagement and the dismal ticket sales when the fanbase realizes their home team is in tank mode.

[Spurs m8]

Seems LeBarry back flipped and reckons the creator should get a huge bonus

This guy is crazy

[kawhileonard2]

Seems LeBarry back flipped and reckons the creator should get a huge bonus

This guy is crazy

Yep

[kawhileonard2]

He's right. I agree with him. The play in is dumb. Golden State should of made the playoffs last year

Yeah no point of it

[BarberSchool]

It's classic of Silver, though.

Dollars over integrityRight, it’s a way to engage an additional 4 regional fanbases (consumer markets), into hopefully becoming engaged in playoff intensity PAST when their market team loses.

It has tremendous potential to greatly anger/turn-off the fanbases of a 7seed who loses the games, tho.

The only real positives it creates:
1. Potential underdog Cinderella narratives if 9 or 10 makes deep run.
2. Subtly/lightly Discourages tanking.

[BigShotBob]

I can understand 8-9 seeds battling it out if records are similar but 7-8 shouldn't have to imo but this year in the East it's much needed if you factor in things like COVID protocols decimating teams

[BigKobeFan]

Was he going to fire himself?

[kawhileonard2]

Was he going to fire himself?

Good point!

[kawhileonard2]

Good point!

I see

[kawhileonard2]

Could be same again this year

[Baller789]

Nah. Lebron stands by his statement.


That's why he chooses to miss the playoffs altogether.

[kawhileonard2]

Nah. Lebron stands by his statement.


That's why he chooses to miss the playoffs altogether.

:lol

[Full Court]

Full Court: Whoever leads a super team to the lottery "needs to be benched."

[kawhileonard2]

Failed to make it last year.

[Full Court]

Failed to make it last year.

Most underachieving team of all time.

Preseason favorites to win the West.

[kawhileonard2]

Most underachieving team of all time.

Preseason favorites to win the West.

Yep and year before favorites to win it all and lost in round 1.

[SATAN]

They are so mad. :oldlol:

[kawhileonard2]

Oh yeah!

[BarberSchool]

I never liked the idea either.

It’s a quasi-disingenuous way to get at least 4 extra fanbases engaged in “playoff level action”.

Silver was hoping it increased fan engagement in the playoff viewership from more regions, and it’s sort of worked, sadly. Because a percentage of the play in losing team’s fanbase will watch the team that beat their team, hoping they lose lol

[kawhileonard2]

Ah yes. 3 of last 4 years he has been in it

[ImKobe]

saw this Tweet


Lebron in 2021: 7th seed, would have made the playoffs
Lebron in 2022: 11th seed
Lebron in 2023: 7th seed, would have made the playoffs
Lebron in 2024: currently sitting at the 8th seed, would have made the playoffs

Lakers did get ****ed by the play-in system because they had to play an extra game every time when they would have been a 7 seed in 21 and 23 regardless. This year they would have played OKC by default instead of having to win a game to play Denver, or play 2 and win to play OKC, or miss out completely.

[RRR3]

Ah yes. 3 of last 4 years he has been in it
You are truly a special kind of stupid aren’t you? Read what ImKobe just posted.

[RRR3]

saw this Tweet



Lakers did get ****ed by the play-in system because they had to play an extra game every time when they would have been a 7 seed in 21 and 23 regardless. This year they would have played OKC by default instead of having to win a game to play Denver, or play 2 and win to play OKC, or miss out completely.
It’s a horrible unfair system and my team arguably benefitted from it last year by losing one game and avoiding the Celtics until the ECF. But I still say that. If a 9 or 10 seed ever goes far in the playoffs it’ll be a disgrace. Imagine if the 36-46 Hawks get in :lol

We have 82 games to decide the best teams it’s insane to leave it up to a single game given the variance of 3pt shooting these days.

[SouBeachTalents]

saw this Tweet



Lakers did get ****ed by the play-in system because they had to play an extra game every time when they would have been a 7 seed in 21 and 23 regardless. This year they would have played OKC by default instead of having to win a game to play Denver, or play 2 and win to play OKC, or miss out completely.
Damn, I never even thought about it that way. Despite the narrative, the play-in has only hurt the Lakers, and this year it really fvcked them. Instead of a manageable path forward as the 8 seed, they're likely gonna face Denver in the first round and get bounced right away.

[RRR3]

Damn, I never even thought about it that way. Despite the narrative, the play-in has only hurt the Lakers, and this year it really fvcked them. Instead of a manageable path forward as the 8 seed, they're likely gonna face Denver in the first round and get bounced right away.
The playin helps no one besides the 9 and 10 seeds (well arguably 3-6 seeds since they get extra time to game plan)

[FultzNationRISE]

smh

[8Ball]

saw this Tweet



Lakers did get ****ed by the play-in system because they had to play an extra game every time when they would have been a 7 seed in 21 and 23 regardless. This year they would have played OKC by default instead of having to win a game to play Denver, or play 2 and win to play OKC, or miss out completely.

If Ham didn't spend half the season figuring out the rotation, this wouldn't have been an issue.

[FultzNationRISE]

OP, dont worry about what Lebron’s doin

[Nowoco]

Lakers did get ****ed by the play-in system because they had to play an extra game every time when they would have been a 7 seed in 21 and 23 regardless. This year they would have played OKC by default instead of having to win a game to play Denver, or play 2 and win to play OKC, or miss out completely.

When you see it written down like this, you realise what a total nonsense the play-in really is.

[RRR3]

When you see it written down like this, you realise what a total nonsense the play-in really is.
Everyone realized it at first then the media campaign went overboard and brainwashed a bunch of people into thinking it wasn’t dogshit.

[kawhileonard2]

You are truly a special kind of stupid aren’t you? Read what ImKobe just posted.

What I Stated are facts not feelings

[BarberSchool]

Bump appreciated.
@Jeff, making search function more readily available for us, would make very “suitable and historically/contextually relevant” bumps more frequent, and add to any possible “quality of discussion” here.

Of course, not allowing that search function to be abused by maniacs is good, but more searching available would be great.

As for LeFraud’s statement…..

… it’s a small taste of divine justice that Bran is a regular on the mildly-embarrassing play-in circuit, after saying what he said. And I say that, as someone who initially mostly agreed, that the play-in seemed like a cheap, mildly disingenuous way to potentially involve more than a handful of fanbases into the playoff viewership, who normally would just stop watching altogether upon elimination. Because sometimes, fans want to watch the series after their team is eliminated, and cheer against the team who beat their team. Even if their team only lost a single measly play-IN game.

Or “play-out” as it were.

As many others here have stated here:

“If it weren’t for the play-in…..what would you LeBron fans and lakers be doing after these “we didn’t even make the playoffs at all” seasons ?

[kawhileonard2]

Of course he would say this.

[BlackMamba8]

Bron is a ***, and anybody who supports him is a *** too....I would smack yall in the face

[Duderonomy]

Honestly they should get rid of this failed experiment. Has a 10th seed even made the playoffs yet?
At the very least have it only be 1 game 8th vs 9th for the final spot.

[kawhileonard2]

Lakers have been in play in the past few years

[Full Court]

Lakers have been in play in the past few years

In 2022 they didn't even make the play-in......with a super team. Any idea how that could happen?

[BarberSchool]

The playin helps no one besides the 9 and 10 seeds (well arguably 3-6 seeds since they get extra time to game plan)

You made a sensible post I completely agree with 126%
Did they change your meds to something new and improved, Tears4Fears ?

[kawhileonard2]

Can he escape this year now that Luka is the lead dog?

[kawhileonard2]

King James

[gengiskhan]

Lets take a bet...

LAL and 41 y.o. LePEDs will be playing in "play-in" tournament.

this #3 slot was one off.

[gengiskhan]

Lets take a bet...

LAL and 41 y.o. LePEDs will be playing in "play-in" tournament.

this #3 slot was one off.