Since the NBA bubble days in 2020, the Play-In Tournament has been part of the playoffs. It boasts a win-or-go-home atmosphere similar to early-round matchups in March Madness.
But in the NBA’s case, this small tournament features some of the most talented players on the planet and gorgeously executed plays, which is rare in college basketball’s March Madness.
In these high-pressure moments, teams are more disciplined, efficient and star players take over the game in a way that is rarely seen in the college game.
The overtime elimination thriller between the Charlotte Hornets and Miami Heat last week proves this. The Hornets had not sniffed the playoffs since 2016, so there was a lot riding on the game for Charlotte fans.
Coby White, a trade deadline acquisition, went nuclear in the third quarter and ended up tying the game in the fourth to send it to overtime with about 10 seconds left on the clock. After a ridiculous back-and-forth overtime, Hornets’ star LaMelo Ball won the game with a layup.
I know that March Madness can deliver ridiculous endings. Madness is in the name. But who’s to say the Play-In Tournament isn’t madness? The NBA offers a game with the same feeling, but significantly more brilliance and ability.
March Madness is a lower quality of basketball. Missed shots, battles for loose balls on the floor and crazy coaches represent chaos, not excellence.
I want to see Victor Wembanyama doing something we’ve never seen before. I want to see Nikola Jokic making a water polo pass to a flying Aaron Gordon doing a 360. I want to see a 41-year-old LeBron James doing a reverse windmill — yes, that happened.
I don’t think it’s unreasonable to prefer a version of basketball where the players are actually the best in the world.
The appeal of March Madness is the sporadic unpredictability, but the NBA playoffs are a display of greatness. If I’m choosing between those two, I’m taking greatness every time.