With how boring the end of this regular season has been, it had me thinking of a time when the NBA regular season wind down was meaningful, the Pre Play In Era. The Play In allows now 2/3 of the league a way to the playoffs within just two games. It’s completely pointless because why can’t a team just get the 10th seed and then win two and make the playoffs. We’ve had this scenario before, with the 2022 Cavs. The Cavs had their first good season post LeBron but were rewarded, despite all their injuries, with a lottery pick due to losing to the Hawks. It also makes me think of 2018, when the Nuggets and Wolves were tied for the eighth seed out west. The final game was an overtime dog fight that was insane to watch. But now, anyone’s guaranteed a playoff spot. And with how tight the East is now, considering Charlotte, Miami & Orlando are all within a game of each other for the 8th seed, imagine how cool it would be to see them fight out for it. Btw, the play in was supposed to only be a one time thing yet here we are seven years later.