The group play for the In-Season Tournament has finally finished, with the knockout round well underway. After a stellar game between the Warriors and Kings, it is hard to label the tournament as unsuccessful. Many of these games have come down to the wire, along with having the atmosphere of a playoff game. Players, coaches, and fans are all showing increased interest in games that would be regular games during the season. However, with success, changes must come for future iterations of the format. What is working and what is not?
A Mix-Up in an Otherwise Mundane Regular Season
The regular season was usually dry at times in the past. After the initial excitement of the season dies off, players and fans alike will not show as much interest in games. This resulted in lower viewership, along with players sitting out or not competing as hard. Even with the new load management rule, players such as Joel Embiid sat out the home opener for the Philadelphia 76ers.
However, the In-Season Tournament has brought back that competitiveness in players. Players known for resting often, such as Zion Williamson, made sure to be available for the tournament games. And with Zion’s availability, the New Orleans Pelicans had a 4-0 record in group play, paving their way to the knockout round.
In an interview after the Lakers’ first tournament win, LeBron James expressed how he’s playing for the stakes.
“It feels great because it’s an In-Season Tournament win. And we’ll take that…There’s $500,000 on the line, so we’re going for that.”
Stephen Curry also conveyed how much competitiveness he is seeing from the players.
“(There is) a lot of competitiveness. I think everybody is trying to get off to a good start during the year with the In-Season Tournament vibe, the court change, and all that added a little energy to it.”
One change from last season that felt like a testing of the waters for the In-Season Tournament was Rivalry Week. Games like the Lakers against the Celtics were a must-see during that week, as it felt like watching a playoff game. And that is the main point of the tournament: to create a playoff atmosphere before the playoffs happen, bringing competitiveness and interest to the regular season. Fans are already voicing opinions that MLB and other sports should incorporate a form of the In-Season Tournament.
Successful but Not Perfect
The popularity of the In-Season Tournament is clear. However, there must be changes, as it is not perfect. Although some players have shown interest, many others have not in the tournament format. One of the main concerns of the players is the point differential rule. To avoid ties before the knockout round, teams are ranked according to their record and the point difference in each game they play.
For example, the Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic finished the Group Play with the same record of 3-1. However, since the Boston Celtics had a higher point difference, they made it to the next round. To achieve that, the Celtics began purposefully fouling Andre Drummond in a blowout win against the Bulls. At that point, Celtics head coach Joe Mazulla had to explain to Bulls head coach Billy Donovan why they were fouling Drummond.
Jayson Tatum spoke about the game and the In-Season Tournament earlier that week. He mentions how complicated the tiebreaker situation was and how he dislikes the rule overall.
“I know Tuesday is complicated. There’s a million different things that can happen. So, that (stuff) is a little tricky. But I think it’s been great. It gives guys something to look forward to early in the season.”
“It’s all about respecting the game and respecting your opponents. So, (the tiebreaker), I’m not a fan of.”
Tatum is not the only player who has spoken about the disrespect felt. An unwritten rule in the NBA is that players should not score on the opponent in the final seconds when the game has already been decided. During almost any game, the final seconds involve both teams dribbling out the ball and waiting for the final buzzer. But with the In-Season Tournament, players are screaming at their teammates to continue shooting. This strikes a nerve for many players who see dribbling out the final seconds as a sign of respect between everyone playing.
DeMar DeRozan was ejected vs. the Raptors for this unwritten rule. He was yelling at the Raptors’ bench of coaches for continuing to score in the final seconds after the Raptors had already won. He confirmed after the game that the disrespect was felt.
“I can’t fake it, I’m frustrated. Beyond frustrated, and I feel like it’s rightfully so, as a competitor. I don’t care about no In-Season Tournament points or none of that. Just respect for the game.”
Possible Changes for the Future
One of the possible changes for future In-Season Tournaments is a cap on the point differential. This avoids teams still scoring in blowout victories over a certain amount of points, such as 15. The Celtics having to hack Drummond while having a 29-point lead should not be happening. The white flag had already been waved by Chicago at that point.
Group play should also increase so that teams play each team in their group twice. Not only does this bring more tournament action to the fans, but it also leaves less downtime between each tournament game. During the playoffs, weeks are filled with high-intensity games, and the In-Season Tournament should have the same type of weeks.
Even more money!
Moving onto the knockout round, teams that finish as the top seed out of all groups should be able to choose their opponent. The Lakers finished with a 4-0 record but are having to play a red-hot Suns team in the first round after already beating them in their group. And, of course, the championship. The incentive of $500,000 for each player is great, but the reward should be greater, especially for the fans. Maybe a free play-in spot at the end of the season. The champions would still have to win two games in a row to make the playoffs, but no matter what, it gives the fans a reason to cheer, knowing they could be making the playoffs with a win.
There are plenty of fantastic ideas and changes that can be stated on the In-Season Tournament. With many doubts surrounding the implementation of the tournament, it is great to see the success. Fans, players, and coaches alike have all bought in, and only more will join with time and a few tweaks.
