The NBA Playoffs used to take eight teams in every conference. For years, fans complained that the Eastern Conference was too weak. They wanted the NBA to take the 16 best teams regardless of conference.
The NBA never made that change. They were against putting the top sixteen teams in the playoffs because they felt that travel would be a pain for players during any East versus West Coast matchups.
However, the NBA did make a significant change to the playoffs in 2021 by adding a play-in tournament.
This new format guaranteed the top six teams in each conference a playoff spot.
The 7, 8, 9, and 10th best teams in each conference must compete to make the playoffs.
This new change meant that 7th and 8th seeds went from guaranteed spots to fighting to get in.
Lebron James was critical of the idea, stating, “Whoever came up with that s**t needs to be fired.”
Despite his protests, the mini-tournament has been well-received by fans.
In the play-in, the seventh seed faces the eighth seed. The matchup winner gets into the playoffs and faces the number two seed.
The ninth seed faces the tenth seed.
The loser is out of contention for a playoff spot.
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The winner of that game has to play the loser of the seventh-seed versus eighth-seed game to determine who will make the playoffs and face the first-seeded team.
If you recall, the 2022-2023 Miami Heat team was a play-in team, and they made it to the finals, where they lost to the Denver Nuggets in five games.
Since the NBA Play-In began in 2021, no tenth seed has made the playoffs.