Lhe 2022-23 NBA season is historic. As a result of the score, impossible records like that of LeBron James and a close fight that will last until the last day of the regular season. 82 games after the kick-off of the month of October. Only four teams have been eliminated, Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs and Charlotte Hornets. All the others (26) can be post-season teams.
It had never happened in the history of the best basketball league in the world. It is clear that the format of access to the Playoffs changed after the Bubble, with the entry of the ‘Play-In’ format and those qualifiers between seventh and tenth to qualify. It generated criticism. “Whoever invented that shit must be fired,” LeBron James came to say in 2021. But he allows the fight between more teams for being in the Playoffs. Thus, the end of the course will be as tight as possible.
The one who invented the Play-in has to be fired
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Especially, in the West. Beyond the tiny options of the Utah Jazz (4%, according to ‘Playoff Status’) and Portland Trail Blazers (1% and with Lillard ‘in rest mode’), there are two wins difference between the sixth and eleventh of the West. Between being a first round team or not playing PlayOffs. Los Timberwolves they beat the Kings (115-119) placing with 39-37 and 6th, the Pelicans have risen and their triumph in Portland puts them eighth (90-124), while the Lakers after losing to the Bulls it gets them into a bit of trouble. Thunder y Mavericks (104-127), with some oxygen after gain in Indiana, they shut down that group.
The East presents a more defined situation, although, for example, the Magic’s final rush wants to change things. “They said we were tanking,” said Paolo Banchero, his number 1 in the last Draft. Even so, they need a miracle (32 wins). 10th are the Bulls who, with 36 wins and 39 losses, have three wins over the Wizards and Pacers. Not even his game lost against the Los Angeles Clippers (124-112) should bother.
They said we were tanking…
In addition to access to the Playoffs, there are also other open fronts. In the Eastthird place since the Philadelphia 76ers must defend themselves against the Cleveland Cavaliers -a victory of separation- after a ‘slump’ that took them off the Bucks and Celtics. In the West, practically everything. Nuggets, Grizzlies and Kings live comfortably in the first three, but then comes the battle. The Suns and Clippers, with 40 wins, seek to be the 4th, and there also comes the fight of those who must also look at the Play-In, led by the Timberwolves and the defending champion, the Golden State Warriors. Everything tight two weeks days from the end.
