The play-in tournament is an excellent median between the end of the regular season and the start of the playoffs for ignition in ratings and suspense. This gives the ninth and tenth seeds, who may have been troubled early, a possibility of still winning into the playoffs.
However, the biggest disadvantage of being in the postseason tournament is something LA has already seen the worst of. In fact, in 2021-22, the Clippers completed 82 games with superstar Paul George as the first option. Two-time champion Kawhi Leonard(ACL surgery recovery) was on the roster but was not free to play.
Nonetheless, the Clippers lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves by five points,109-104, and were walking on eggshells to notch the final spot in a battle with the New Orleans Pelicans.
Moreover, George played with all his might, attaining 34 points, seven rebounds, and five assists, but with a supporting cast that could only score so much, the Clippers could not hang with Anthony Edwards(30 points) and D'Angelo Russell(29 points).
Unfortunately, George(health and safety protocols) missed the showdown between eight and nine. His absence was detrimental as the Pelicans, who finished six games behind the Clippers and well below .500, made a first-round appearance by eliminating LA.
Nonetheless, what happened in 2022 could recur in this season's Western Conference play-in tournament.
The LA Clippers must focus on staying away from the play-in because of a major flaw
Today, the LA Clippers are the seventh seed, at 45-32, and even with the Minnesota Timberwolves(6) and Memphis Grizzlies(8). They have a window to dig themselves out of the play-in tournament, but the Clippers would have no choice but to win five of their last five.
Conversely, assuming the Clippers end as a play-in opponent, they would have a fair matchup with Memphis. The flaw becomes relevant as the winner of the ninth and ten-seeded games will be over five games apart from the loser of the seventh and eighth-seeded games, but one poor shooting night from the team with a better record could render a loss.
Nonetheless, the Clippers' title aspirations with James Harden and Kawhi Leonard could be extinguished with two consecutive losses in the NBA's tournament . This must yield motivation inside the locker room for LA to finish in the top six and dodge their nightmare: having an exceptional record but still missing the first round because of a system with disadvantages.