The double-edged weapon that will be playing the play-in in the West

A fierce battle has been raging for weeks in the Western Conference to secure a direct ticket to the 2025 NBA playoffs, without having to go through the nerve-wracking play-in. However, there is an aspect that can make obtaining that first play-in spot very appealing for the future in the postseason.

It may seem unfair, but the fact that the Houston Rockets have secured the second spot in the Western Conference makes finishing seventh in the regular season almost more interesting than ending up in sixth or fifth position. The Texans are a young team, lacking playoff experience from their key players and raising some doubts regarding matches where defenses are much stronger, and the style of play changes.

Teams like Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, Los Angeles Clippers, or Denver Nuggets see the Rockets as a more manageable opponent than the Lakers, for example. The risk of being pushed into the play-in is the physical and emotional toll of a do-or-die game since if lost, the only chance to reach the postseason would be to win the next game against the Kings or Mavs, but then facing formidable Thunder. Facing the Rockets also means avoiding OKC until a hypothetical Conference final.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El arma de doble filo que supondrá jugar el play-in en el Oeste