(05-23-2020, 07:11 PM)Hypermav Wrote: My new proposal is Houston, Utah, OKC and the Mavs play each other for the right to NOT play the "play in" teams. Loser in the group joins Memphis in the one game tournament.
(I think the Nets poor record as the 7th seed in the east is what is dragging the Mavs into this potential problem.)
The top 7 in the west and top 6 in the east are very clear. If they really want a play-in tournament, I'd make it for the 8th seed in each conference. To fill the extra spot in the east, just let Brooklyn and Orlando play for the 7 seed with the loser getting a second shot at it in the tournament.
BTW, I suspect the media-driven fantasy of a competitive tournament to make the playoffs is very likely to conflict with the reality of several clearly medicore teams falling all over themselves to lose and stay in the lottery.