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Would a Playoffs Plus format mean the end of the Kings playoff drought?

If the Kings are part of an expanded field or play-in tournament, would that signal the end of the playoff drought for the team?
By | 57 Comments | May 27, 2020

Credit: Kimani Okearah

As the NBA continues to explore options for resuming the season, it seems less and less likely that all 30 teams will participate. Given the reported timelines, and the hesitation from players with seemingly nothing to play for, it seems more likely that a smaller group of teams will be invited to Orlando. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the idea of a Playoffs Plus format is still on the table.

There is a playoffs-plus idea that includes 20 to 24 teams, with the NBA including more teams from the Western Conference than the Eastern Conference, sources said. The NBA is considering play-in possibilities with teams like New Orleans, Portland, San Antonio and Sacramento vying for the postseason, sources said.

The obvious question for Kings fans is whether or not this would break the team’s playoff drought. And it isn’t just the Kings, there are other streaks in play here.

Personally, I think it depends on the format. If there’s a play-in tournament among the bottom four teams in the West, I probably won’t consider that a playoff berth. It’s it’s a larger, World-Cup style tournament as has been discussed, I might count it. Even among the Kings Herald staff there’s disagreement over what would constitute an end to the drought, so what say you? Chime in the comments about what you think would or would not count as making the playoffs.

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RobHessing
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May 27, 2020 2:09 pm

Anything outside of finishing in the top eight in the West is semantics as far as I’m concerned.

RobHessing
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May 27, 2020 2:29 pm
Reply to  RobHessing

Also, my solution would not be the most dollar-producing, but it would be the fairest way to proceed to the playoffs if there are no more regular season games:

There is a gulf between the 13th and 14th teams in the league (Dallas and Memphis), a seven game difference in the standings. At .597 Dallas and everyone above them are 50 win or better teams (Dallas is actually at a 49 pace). Memphis is on a 40 win, sub-.500 pace, with the balance of the league below them.

Draw the line at the gulf. Give the top three teams, the three teams playing better than .700 ball (Bucks, Lakers, Raptors) 1st round byes, and rack up the Clips/Mavs, Celtics/Sixers, Nuggets/Pacers, Jazz/Rockets, and Heat/Thunder. Re-rack by seeding order for the next round.

It will never happen – folks in Memphis, Orlando and Brooklyn would flip, and it would totally muck up the lottery odds, as those teams would deserve a piece of that pie.

All of this said, a play-in tourney of Memphis, Orlando, Brooklyn, Portland, New Orleans, Sacramento, and San Antonio (throw in Phoenix if you want an eight team play in field) for the final three seeds (with no consideration to East/West) would be fine with me – seed it and play it like the NCAAs -single elimination. Would be exciting.

TitleChaser
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May 27, 2020 11:13 pm
Reply to  RobHessing

Your first playoff idea, while logical, makes me sad. But I’m digging your eight-team play-in tournament for the last three spots. After a first-round single elimination, the two winners of the second round could advance to a third round, while the two losers play a 3rd place match. The winner of the third round gets the 7th seed in the East, while the loser gets to choose which 8th seed€” West or East€” they play in. The winner of the third place game gets the remaining 8th seed.

Klam
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May 27, 2020 5:33 pm
Reply to  RobHessing

Well, that’s the first time I’ve seen a down vote on this new layout.

RobHessing
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May 27, 2020 6:06 pm
Reply to  Klam

Who knew that my ex-wife had an account? Ex-shun214.

jdwhit
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May 27, 2020 2:11 pm

This is the Kangziest way to snap a playoff drought and we should absolutely embrace it.

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LandParkJimmer
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May 27, 2020 2:13 pm

Top 8 or bust

TonyXypteras
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May 27, 2020 2:27 pm

That’s a no from me. Even if they make it through the first cut, it’s just different.

Until they finish top-8 over the course of an NBA regular season, the drought remains.

RORDOG
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May 27, 2020 2:28 pm

I don’t see why it would be treated any differently than the Wild Card games in MLB. If the NBA creates a post-season that does not include all 30 teams, then all teams that are included are in the playoffs since they are eligible to win the championship. It might be semantic, but I don’t see how they can differentiate based on the initial seeding.

Also, in a funny twist, Buddy stands to make an additional $1,000,000 this year if he plays an additional 6 games, he keeps his FT% >85%, and they technically get into the post-season. Someone smarter about contract stuff may know more about how his incentives work, but that’s how I read it.

Gregoryl
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May 27, 2020 3:44 pm
Reply to  RORDOG

MLB Wild Card isn’t the playoffs. It’s a chance to play in the playoffs. Teams celebrating after getting a wild card berth is silly.

justjosh
May 29, 2020 12:33 am
Reply to  Gregoryl

The mlb has included the wild card game as post season play. Now if there was a tie at the end of the regular season as there was in 2018 then it would be game 163 or 164. Which it was with both COL/LA and STL/MIL. Their tie breaker games was 163 and then the wild card game was game 1 in the postseason.

Last edited 3 years ago by justjosh
Otis
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May 27, 2020 4:14 pm
Reply to  RORDOG

I suspect it would be treated differently because…it’s different. This team was technically outside the playoffs based on the league’s rules at the time the regular season “ended”.

RORDOG
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May 27, 2020 4:37 pm
Reply to  Otis

Let me put it this way: if the Kings play in a play-in game or a group stage, then the associated per game stats will show up in the playoffs section of the NBA’s official stat page. It’s the exact same thing as the MLB. If you want to check the stats for the Oakland A’s in their Wild Card play-in games, then you have to check the postseason stats section.

We can look at it different based on circumstances, but for all intents and purposes the Kings will be considered a playoff team if they’re allowed to play games in a tournament used to establish a champion after the regular season ends.

Otis
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May 27, 2020 4:43 pm
Reply to  RORDOG

I suppose I’m thinking of perception, rather than reality. I’m sure you’re right, that the league would consider it a playoff berth.

As a Kings fan, it would be hard to say that streak was broken with a straight face.

Otis
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May 27, 2020 4:44 pm
Reply to  Otis

+1

Sadly, I think the franchise would take it seriously enough to think the team’s on the right track with Vlade in charge.

RORDOG
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May 27, 2020 5:12 pm
Reply to  Otis

That I agree with. I think the front office would look at how they were playing before games were postponed, and rationalize that they would’ve made the playoffs regardless. I wholeheartedly disagree with that assumption unless they make a splash in whatever postseason format the NBA decides to use.

CoreyBrewersD
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May 27, 2020 6:35 pm
Reply to  RORDOG

Vivek/Vlade saw this all coming? Of course! Building the team for expanded playoffs. Maybe even saving cap space by turning down Durant and Irvings offer to play here. Man these guys are blowing my mind!

sactownchad
May 27, 2020 2:30 pm

I would say “no” if they simply get to play in this “play in” tournament and YES if they win and come through.

Bryant
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May 27, 2020 2:35 pm

I honestly half expected this article just to be “Lol, no”, but Greg is too professional for that.

But… lol, no, the Kings don’t get to consider this a playoff run unless they get out of whatever the NBA uses as the Group stage and last into the round of 16.

RORDOG
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May 27, 2020 2:41 pm
Reply to  Bryant

Isn’t the idea of the group stage that you start with 4 groups of 5 teams, and 2 teams from each group move onto a round of 8?

RobHessing
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May 27, 2020 2:45 pm
Reply to  RORDOG

When a 53% chance of making the playoffs is just not enough, bump the number up to 67%. Kangz!

RORDOG
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May 27, 2020 3:14 pm
Reply to  RobHessing

This isn’t one of those situations in which I’m attempting to lower the bar. I’m just saying you can’t have a playoff system in which certain teams that are allowed in aren’t technically playoff teams.

If Lebron scores 80 points against the Kings, then does that not count as a playoff record since his opponent wasn’t a playoff team? Conversely, if he does it against the Clippers in the group stage does it count since they are a “playoff” team?

If Buddy makes 14 threes in a game, and Harden scores 12 in the same game, then does Harden get the records for threes made in a single playoff game instead of Buddy?

We can talk about how making it in due to a technicality shouldn’t be included on the positive side of the ledger for the front office. I just don’t think it makes much logical sense, from the NBA’s perspective, to have separate definitions for the post-season versus the playoffs.

RobHessing
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May 27, 2020 3:19 pm
Reply to  RORDOG

I’m going to avoid the rabbit hole aspect of all of this and just leave it at this:

A play-in tournament is not the playoffs. It’s right in the name: play-IN.

RORDOG
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May 27, 2020 3:25 pm
Reply to  RobHessing

If it’s a group stage, then it’s not a play-in tournament. Even if it is a play-in tournament, I don’t see how it is dramatically different than the wild card game in MLB. Here’s the description according to Wikipedia:

The Major League Baseball Wild Card Game is a play-in game which was added to the Major League Baseball (MLB) postseason in 2012, and marks the beginning of the playoffs for both the American League and National League.

RobHessing
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May 28, 2020 11:21 am
Reply to  RORDOG
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Bryant
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May 27, 2020 2:48 pm
Reply to  RORDOG

Good point. Basically, the Kings need to survive the first stage of however the league runs this tournament before they can consider this a playoff run.

drock1331
May 27, 2020 2:51 pm
Reply to  RORDOG

Simple then, just finish at least 4th in your group of 5, boom you’re top 16!

kfipp
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May 27, 2020 4:28 pm
Reply to  Greg

Please boo

drock1331
May 27, 2020 2:49 pm

I’m pretty sure the record books would count it as a playoff berth. Whether I think it “counts” or not, meh, does it really matter? I will just be happy to see them play.

ElRonToro
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May 27, 2020 3:01 pm

I’m on the fence and my ass hurts. But if I say no and the Kings run the playoffs do I think they are NBA champs? I think I do. Consistency of my logic escapes me. I will gladly be perplexed if I make my final decision in September at the parade.

Kosta
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May 27, 2020 3:24 pm

I once received a trophy for being on a team in soccer where we didn’t win a single game.

Also, I’ve lost weight while being sick.

Do I consider either of these legitimate wins?

YES, YES I DO!

Bring on the the Fauxplayoffs!

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ZillersCat
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May 27, 2020 4:23 pm
Reply to  Kosta

GenXer … Coughcomment image

Last edited 3 years ago by ZillersCat
Klam
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May 27, 2020 5:35 pm
Reply to  Kosta

I played little league soccer for six seasons….the teams I was on never had winning records. But I remember first time I got a trophy at the end of the season I felt so special.

And now they all sit in my closet back at my parents’ house.

CoreyBrewersD
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May 27, 2020 6:28 pm
Reply to  Klam

I am thinking if they were first place they would be on the mantle for all to see, mine are!

Marty
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May 27, 2020 10:59 pm
Reply to  CoreyBrewersD

I was thinking the same thing. 😜

ZillersCat
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May 28, 2020 6:35 am
Reply to  Marty

#OK Boomer 🙂 … Cough Cough

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Last edited 3 years ago by ZillersCat
ZillersCat
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May 28, 2020 6:42 am
Reply to  ZillersCat

OK, two thumps up .. I couldn’t decide .. drat

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dadysir
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May 27, 2020 3:25 pm

Why can’t they take the teams in the west that have positions locked in and seed them and let the remaining teams that are in reach battle it out to fill the remaining positions in top 8 then business as usual. Those who had a chance get a chance those who did really well get benefit of that those who stunk the place up can go home.

Marty
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May 27, 2020 3:34 pm

I don’t really care about asterisks. If Bat Shit Crazy 2020 somehow thrusts the Kings into the playoffs, then they’ve made it to me. Squeaking into the playoffs doesn’t feel incredibly admirable, but I’m sure it would be exciting in a real no-strings-attached kind of way.

I try to have fun following this franchise and not worry too much about the flush cycle it’s stuck in. At least Boogie isn’t here and for that I still pinch myself.

BuffaloDiaspora
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May 27, 2020 3:47 pm

I personally would love a world cup style format and think the NBA should adopt that for all future playoffs (which also would make this count more)

Also, I cannot seem to log-in to this site on my work laptop only. Personal laptop and phone are fine, chrome all the way around, browser cache cleared. Anyone have a clue what the issue might be?

ForKingsandCountry
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May 27, 2020 4:44 pm

For me, if you aren’t in the top-8 in the West, it definitely doesn’t count. At this point I want them to either earn it by being good enough to actually make it or set the record for playoff futility. I feel like we deserve that record. I want to wear it as a badge of fandom so that when people ask me who I root for, I can confidently tell them the worst franchise of all time.

jlandweh
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May 27, 2020 4:48 pm

Play-In Games shouldn’t count as making the “Playoffs.” If the Kings were to win those games and reach the actual “Playoffs,” then I think you can say that the Kings made the Playoffs in the record books (similar to the 99 lockout).

I just hope it happens because I would love to see the Kings play meaningful basketball games late in the season again. Imagine the crazy crowds at Golden 1 err Downtown Disney.

**This is not a political statement…but the most Kangz thing would be to make the playoffs and break the streak this year. Playing Playoff games not in Sacramento hurts my soul (but playing Playoff games is better than nothing).

Gregoryl
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May 28, 2020 12:12 am
Reply to  jlandweh

Play-in games are not the playoffs. I’m looking at you, MLB and NCAA.

ScottyPop
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May 27, 2020 5:32 pm

Asterisk for me.

I need to see it for real before I’m a believer.

Y’all know they’ll go full kAnGz though. I don’t they’ll make it anyway. They’ll give us hope they’ll make it, just to blow it spectacularly at the last minute.

beephop
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May 27, 2020 7:22 pm

I’m just excited to see some basketball either way. I really hope the Kings get to play for something.

Last edited 3 years ago by beephop
al_lives
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May 28, 2020 1:46 am

Whatever works, as long as people start talking about the Kings, I’m happy.

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outrider
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May 28, 2020 7:16 am

For me, if they officially make the playoffs, then they made the playoffs, regardless of the format.

G-naps
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May 28, 2020 8:36 am

I dont consider the playoffs this year, especially if they arent in the top 8, as “ending the playoff drought”

If the Kings make the play in game it will only give the FO an excuse to keep doing what they’re doing. I know there wont be any change at the top during this off season but I dont want to hear in April 2021 “we didnt make the playoffs this year (2021) but Vlade will fix it because look what he put together for the playoff run in 2020”

TheFifthMookie
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May 28, 2020 9:01 am

Assuming there’s a group stage, or some mini-play-in to the 8th or 7th seed, just being in the play in doesn’t count to me, but if they win and actually get seeded 8th or 7th, it would count.

I’d be really, really surprised if they won a play-in of whatever flavor.

Adamsite
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Nostradumbass 14
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May 28, 2020 9:26 am

Playoffs with an asterisk aside, I have questions regarding contracts. How is the NBA dealing with players contracts that come to and end at the end of June? Are the modifying all of those contracts? All of the UFA are technically unemployed at the end of June. Are there teams still gonna pay them with this new extended season? What about the UFA that don’t make the playoffs? Do they not collect a pay check until free agency begins sometime after September? What about players who have incentive laced contacts? I’d be really interested to hear the Players Association on these dilemmas. Does anyone know of website where these issues have been discussed?

Otis
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May 28, 2020 9:36 am

I’m still very skeptical they’ll be able to pull this off. Disney World is re-opening, and Florida isn’t exactly trying to lock this virus down. If that state spikes in the near future, this whole thing may get torpedoed.

Adamsite
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May 28, 2020 10:02 am
Reply to  Otis

I’m with you on that. I have some serious doubts this comes about. If it’s not the virus, it will be location, if not the location, it will be the logistics and scheduling, if not for that, it will be the personnel. It wouldn’t surprise me one bit of some key players decide to sit this one out. Lillard is just the tip of the iceberg.

Pistola916
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May 28, 2020 12:44 pm

Unless they resume the regular season with teams playing out their final 17-20 remaining games, I will not count the play-in or World Cup-style format as “making the playoffs”.

The top 8 teams in each conference are this year’s playoff teams. Sorry to be an ass, just my humble opinion. I realize people will say it screws the Kings, Pelicans, Blazers and Spurs… but hey, that’s life.

I will still watch the Kings should they get invited to play such tournament but it will be as a pure form of entertainment like Summer League with NBA players so to speak.

SanjeshSingh
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May 28, 2020 2:19 pm

I’m curious to see how the NBA history books will view this, but this is all so KANGZ

asaprossy
May 28, 2020 6:21 pm

Say it doesn’t count, but the Kings make a Cinderella run to the Finals. Could they be the first team to ever win a championship without technically making the playoffs?

RobHessing
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May 28, 2020 7:49 pm
Reply to  asaprossy

If they make it into the field of 16, they’re in the playoffs.

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