How Does the NBA’s Play-In Tournament Work in 2021?

The NBA’s Play-In Tournament is a new addition to the league for the 2021 season. Here’s how it works and what you need to know.

What is the NBA’s Play-In Tournament?

The NBA’s Play-In Tournament is a new postseason format that was introduced for the 2020-21 season. The tournament will consist of two rounds, with the first round featuring the seventh and eighth seeds in each conference. The winner of each first-round game will advance to the second round, where they will face the loser of the conference’s No. 4 vs. No. 5 seed matchup.

The second round will be a single game, with the winner earning the conference’s No. 7 seed and a spot in the NBA Playoffs. The loser of the second round game will enter a playoff for the final spot in the playoffs, with that series being played between the conference’s No. 8 and No. 9 seeds.

The NBA Play-In Tournament is scheduled to begin on May 18, 2021 and will conclude on May 21, 2021.

How has the Play-In Tournament Format Changed for 2021?

The NBA introduced a Play-In Tournament for the 2020 season in an effort to increase drama and excitement heading into the playoffs. The tournament consisted of the 7-10 seeds in each conference playing each other in a double-elimination format, with the winner of each game advance to play the loser of the 2 vs. 3 matchup.

While the 2020 Play-In Tournament was generally well-received, there were some concerns about its fairness and competitive balance. As a result, the NBA has made some changes to the format for the 2021 season.

The biggest change is that now, only the 8th and 9th seeds in each conference will participate in the Play-In Tournament. These two teams will play each other twice, with the winner of those two games earning the 8th seed in their conference’s playoffs.

Meanwhile, the 7th seed will earn a spot in the playoffs by virtue of having a better regular season record than either of those two teams. This means that there is less incentive for teams to tank late in the season (i.e., lose intentionally) in order to get a worse seed and thus an easier first-round matchup.

Another change for 2021 is that, if the 9th seed beats the 8th seed twice, they will not only earn a spot in the playoffs but will also automatically become the 8th seed (and thus avoid having to play an additional game against the 7th seed). This should add even more drama to these games, as teams will be fighting not only for a chance to make it to the postseason but also for a better position once they get there.

Finally, while home court advantage has traditionally been determined by regular season record, it will now be determined by which team wins more games between seeds 4-7 (in other words, which team wins their first-round playoff series). So while having a good regular season record is still important, it won’t necessarily give you an advantage heading into your playoff series.

The 2021 NBA Play-In Tournament is sure to be full of drama and excitement, and these changes should make it even more competitive and fair than last year’s edition.

What are the Rules for the 2021 Play-In Tournament?

In order to be eligible for the play-in tournament, a team must finish within four games of the 8th seed in their conference. The tournament will feature the 7th through 10th seeds in each conference playing each other. The winner of each game will advance to face the loser of a matchup between the 6th and 5th seeds.

The victor in that game will earn the 7th seed in the conference playoffs while the loser will play the 8th seed for the final spot in the playoffs. In order to ensure that there is meaning to every regular season game, a defeated team cannot choose to “rest” their players and attempt to lose on purpose in order to get a more favorable matchup. The rules also state that any team that makes it to within four games of an automatic playoff berth will automatically be entered into the tournament, regardless of their record.

How do Teams Qualify for the Play-In Tournament?

In order to qualify for the play-in tournament, a team must finish the regular season within four games of the eighth seed in their conference. For example, if the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference finished the regular season with a 42-40 record, then any team that finishes with a 38-44 record or better would qualify for the play-in tournament.

In order to be eligible for the play-in tournament, a team must also have finished in the top 10 of their conference in terms of overall winning percentage. So, if a team outside of the top eight in their conference has a better record than a team inside the top eight, but finished with a worse overall winning percentage, they would not qualify for the play-in tournament.

What is the Seeding Format for the Play-In Tournament?

The NBA’s play-in tournament will feature the seventh through 10th seed in each conference. The No. 7 and No. 8 seeds will face each other, with the winner getting the seventh seed in the playoffs. The loser of that game will then take on the winner of a game between the No. 9 and No. 10 seeds, with the victor receiving the eighth and final playoff spot in their conference.

How many Games will be played in the Play-In Tournament?

The 2021 NBA Playoffs will feature a Play-In Tournament for the first time ever. This new tournament will take place from May 18-21 and will include the seventh through tenth seeds in each conference. The winner of each Play-In game will earn the seventh seed in their respective conference playoffs.

The tournament will consist of four total games, two in each conference. The seventh seed will play the eighth seed, with the winner earning the seventh spot in the playoffs. The ninth seed will play the tenth seed, with the winner advancing to play the loser of the seven-eight matchup.

The fourth and final game in the Play-In Tournament will be between the winners of the seven-eight and nine-ten games in each conference. The winner of this game will earn the seventh seed in their conference playoffs.

What is the Schedule for the Play-In Tournament?

The NBA’s play-in tournament will take place from Tuesday, May 18th to Saturday, May 22nd. The tournament will consist of four games total, two on Tuesday, two on Wednesday, and the final game on Saturday. The format of the tournament is a double-elimination style, meaning that each team will need to lose twice in order to be eliminated from contention.

The first two play-in games will be between the seventh and eighth seeds in each conference. The winner of each game will earn the seventh seed in their respective conference’s playoffs. The loser of each game will then play the winner of a matchup between the ninth and tenth seeds. The winner of that game will earn the eighth and final spot in their conference’s playoffs.

Each game in the play-in tournament will be played at the home arena of the higher seed. So, for example, if the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference is playing the ninth seed, the game would be played at eighth seed’s arena.

What is at Stake in the Play-In Tournament?

The NBA’s play-in tournament will take place between May 18 and May 21, with the winners of each game advancing to the main playoff tournament. The tournament will include the seventh through 10th seeds in each conference, with the seventh seed playing the eighth seed and the ninth seed playing the 10th seed. The winners of those games will then play each other, with the winner earning the seventh seed in the playoffs and the loser earning the eighth seed.

While it may not seem like much is at stake in these games, remember that even just a few years ago, home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs was determined by regular season record. That’s no longer the case, as teams are now reseeded after every round of the playoffs. So, while it may not seem like much, every game counts in today’s NBA landscape.

In addition, there is also a financial incentive for teams to perform well in these play-in games. Remember that as of this season, NBA teams will now receive revenue sharing from playoff games. So, while it may not be as much as if a team were to make it all the way to The Finals, there is still a significant amount of money to be made by winning just one or two play-in games.

So, while it may not be must-see TV for casual fans, there is still a lot riding on these games for both players and teams alike.

Who are the Favorites to Win the Play-In Tournament?

The NBA’s play-in tournament is back for the 2021 season and there are a few strong contenders to take home the title.

The Los Angeles Lakers are the defending champions and they are once again one of the favorites to win it all. Other teams that are expected to do well include the Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, and Portland Trail Blazers.

The play-in tournament will begin on May 18th and will conclude with the NBA Finals on July 22nd.