Report: NBA Discussed Using NBA Cup Placement as Playoff Tiebreaker Over H2H Results

After the success of the NBA In-Season Tournament, the league is reportedly considering adding playoff ramifications to the event.

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, the NBA Board of Governors has discussed a proposal to use the round to which a team advances in the NBA Cup as the first postseason tiebreaker. The league is polling general managers to see if they want to keep head-to-head results as the first tiebreaker or to make the switch to NBA Cup finishes.

Charania added that the GMs will be choosing from three options: NBA Cup as the first postseason tiebreaker, NBA Cup as the second tiebreaker after head-to-head results and third in ties involving more than two teams, and advancement to NBA Cup as the first tiebreaker and further advancement as the third or fourth.

The Los Angeles Lakers became the league's inaugural NBA Cup champions after defeating the Indiana Pacers in the In-Season Tournament Championship in December. The Lakers placed eighth in the Western Conference with a 47-35 record and will have to get through the play-in tournament if they want to make the playoffs. The Pacers also finished 47-35, but that was good enough for the sixth seed in the East.

However, Indiana shared an identical record with the Orlando Magic and Philadelphia 76ers. If advancement in the In-Season Tournament was a tiebreaker for postseason seeding, the Pacers would have jumped the Magic for the No. 5 seed.

The NBA has been searching for ways to improve competitiveness across the league, and both tournaments have produced positive results in increasing motivation among players. Adding another wrinkle to the NBA Cup would further incentivize players to put forth a strong effort during the In-Season Tournament.