Basketball preaches respect and empathy. Yes, players mercilessly battle it out in the conquest to win the game. However, there is an unwritten rule to show mercy. We, as fans, have seen it time and again. When the game’s outcome seems decided, the winning team will run out the clock. It’s a show of respect for the opposition who gave a fair fight. This exact practice is now being breached, rather the NBA stars are compelled to do so because of the in-season tournament.

Due to the concept of point-differential being a parameter for qualifying, teams are in the hunt to score points right till the final whistle. Then it doesn’t matter if the team is up by 25 with a minute to go, a tournament game will have an attempt all the way to the end. Some players have voiced their displeasure with these developments. Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum felt breaking the century-long tradition due to the tournament’s rule is disrespectful towards the challenger.

“The point differential thing, I’m not the biggest fan of it … last Friday where the game was already over and the guys still trying to score, you know, it’s all about respecting the game and respecting your opponents,” he told the media.

Devin Booker, another dynamic young shooting guard in the NBA, said he wouldn’t have taken a last-second three-pointer unless the point-differential rule was in play. I’m sure other players feel remorseful when they score despite a huge lead, or opponents try to score for salvation at the end of games to reduce the point differential. It may feel weird, wrong, or even disrespectful, as Tatum labeled it, but at the end of the day, it is necessary. Let’s see how.

Jayson Tatum and Devin Booker aren’t wrong in their sentiments

Before the NBA In-Season tournament, the most premium unwritten rule was to run out the last possession when your team is up. The superstars would take a rest for the last quarter as a strategic maneuver to avoid injuries. Reserves could step into the NBA light and potentially book their place in the rotation. If the lead remains monstrous, the last 24 seconds would always see the possession dribbled out, standing stationary just beyond the half.

In the tournament games, rather than every possession, the game has become even more specific. Every point matters if you are scrapping to qualify for the next round. This means even with the game over, teams can’t casually take their foot off the gas. The star players who would normally rest will stay on the floor trying to extend the league and gain as much of a differential as possible to ensure they remain safe. That’s the attitude the In-Season tournament breeds.

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One can argue it goes against the moral laws of basketball. Where is the sign of respect for the opponent who fought valiantly throughout the night? Why would you want to kick someone who is down in the first place? All these questions make you question your own sanity. Under no other circumstances would basketball be so cruel. Jayson Tatum and the Celtics have to go against their own principles because, at the end of the day, they need to create their best chance of winning.

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However, as much as it seems to be inhuman to pile on the misery, or play till the last second, no matter what the scenario, it matters. For the likes of Tatum and Devin Booker, they can take a back seat and let their disciplines win. However, with the monetary rewards at stake, qualifying for the knockouts can make a vast difference to the not so well known NBA players. And to advance, they have to adapt.

Everything is fair in the In-Season tournament

So far, only two teams have booked a place in the knockout rounds, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Indiana Pacers. Both left the group stage unscathed and are eligible for a minimum reward of $500,000. But the remaining six spots are still up for grabs. And it is bound to be a play of numbers to determine who can earn a wildcard for the reward.

Let’s consider the New Orleans Pelicans to showcase the vitality of point-differential. They are their group’s current leaders, having won 3 of their four tournament games. The only team who can equal their record is the Houston Rockets, who on winning against the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday will also have a 3-1 record. Jumping into hypotheticals, if the Rockets successfully triumph over the Mavs, they will win the group due to its superior point differential. Moreover, the Pelicans won’t even be up for the wildcard spot. They stand at a +29 differential, while the Phoenix Suns are +34.

Against the Memphis Grizzlies, the Suns had a comfortable lead in garbage time. There was no need for Devin Booker to be out in an ordinary scenario. Yet, his controversial three at the end and his scoring nine of the last twelve helped Phoenix win the game by 21, taking their differential to +34. If it wasn’t for Booker’s last-second triple, the Suns might not feel as stable as they are at this moment. Even then, the Suns are in danger of not qualifying for the knockouts as some teams still have a game to spare.

In such times, we can’t say scoring at the end is disrespectful because it matters. One mid-range jumper, a dunk, or an inconsequential three in a random group game could potentially hold the weight of a playoff game-winner in terms of qualification. After all, a $500,000 cash reward is at stake.

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In such cases, a messy hustle could decide one’s destiny.