Mavs Owner Mark Cuban Suggests Play-In Be For Eighth Seed Only, ‘Or Not At All’

The NBA play-in tournament has mostly been a hit for the fans, though NBA team owners, coaches and players have had mixed feelings about it.

Some are OK with it, others not so much. 

Mavericks owners Mark Cuban offered his own take on the tournament, pointing out that the extra games come with a certain degree of risk.

“As fun as the Play-In Tournament was, it led to playoff games being played every other night,” Cuban tweeted. “Which raises the question of whether that has led to teams being tired and possibly injured. We can’t extend the last day because of TV. Should the PlayIn be just 8th seed or not at all?”

As fun as the Play-In Tournament was, it led to playoff games being played every other night. Which raises the question of whether that has led to teams being tired and possibly injured. We can’t extend the last day because of TV. Should the PlayIn be just 8th seed or not at all?

— Mark Cuban (@mcuban) May 25, 2022

Without a doubt, Cuban’s statement has some merit. Extra games lead to the possibility of injury or simple exhaustion. Perhaps a game between the ninth and 10th seed, with the winner playing the eighth might make more sense. Or just a game between Nos. 8 and 9.

The NBA has indeed admitted that the tourney could eventually take a different form at some point. 

That said, opponents of Cuban’s tweet pointed out that NBA players play in the Olympics, summer league, or even unofficial team workouts during the offseason — and that perhaps they could use that time to rest, as opposed to the season.

Either way, the league is still figuring out the best way to approach the play-in tourney. Maybe it will stay as it is. But maybe all involved will reach a compromise that suits the majority.

Right now, it’s hard to tell if that’s the case.