聯盟有意永久實施季後附加賽制度 - NBA

標題：NBA wants to adopt postseason play-in tournament permanently, per report

（消息來源：聯盟打算永久實施季後附加賽制度）

來源：CBS Sports https://bit.ly/2S20R81


作者：Jasmyn Wimbish

原文＋翻譯：

（本文中的「tanking」等詞，均譯為「消極應戰」，不過同時也有「坦」的意思）

After doing a trial run of a play-in tournament to determine the eighth seed
in both conferences last season down in the Orlando bubble, the NBA may be
looking to adopt the format permanently. Entering this season, the league and
players approved the play-in tournament which would involve the teams ranked
seventh through 10th in both conferences to determine the seventh and eighth
seeds in the East and the West.

上個賽季在奧蘭多的泡泡賽區內，試行了定奪東區聯盟之第八種子及西區聯盟之第八種子
的附加賽之後，NBA 聯盟正打算永久施行這項制度。來到本賽季，在聯盟與球員達成共識
的情況下，涉及東區聯盟的第七至第十名以及西區聯盟的球隊將以附加賽的形式，定奪各
區的第七種子和第八種子。

Although we're still weeks away from the actual play-in tournament, it's clear
the purpose of the new format -- to stop teams from tanking -- has paid off
with just under a month left in the regular season. There are still 24 teams
competing for a spot in the playoffs, which is the highest the league has had
in history at this point in the schedule. Unlike past seasons where teams who
weren't near the top eight of the conference would start to look ahead and
rest players in an effort to gain better lottery odds, there are very few
teams who are actively doing that this season. It's lead the league to plan on
implementing the play-in tournament permanently past this season.

雖然距離真正要打附加賽還有數周的時間，這項新賽制的目的已經很明確了——避免球隊
消極應戰——且在例行賽還剩約一個月的時間裡，已經有了回報。目前還有二十四支球隊
正競逐季後賽資格，為在當下賽程點中的歷史新高紀錄。在過往的數個賽季，不在各區前
八名的球隊會選擇以展望未來的形式，讓球員休息，以便能在下賽季的選秀中能取得上上
籤，但來到本賽季之後，類似情況已經減少許多。這使得聯盟更有動力，以從下賽季開始
，永久實施附加賽制度。

Howard Beck of Sports Illustrated: "The future of the play-in tournament, whi-
ch was adopted on a one-year trial basis, is a huge key. But given the impact
it's already made, league sources expect easy approval to make it permanent."

《體育畫報》記者 Howard Beck：

「在一年的試行基礎上進行之附加賽制度的未來，將是一個極大的關鍵。但鑑於該賽制已
　經產生的影響，來自聯盟的消息來源預計，將會能更易於批准永久化實行該賽制。」

When the league approached team owners about adopting the play-in tournament
for this season, it was passed unanimously by all 30 team governors, and the
players approved it as well. So there's no reason this new format won't be
made part of the NBA season going forward. The main purpose of the play-in
tournament ahead of the postseason is to incentivize teams who may not be
championship contenders to still remain competitive over the course of the
season. The final month of the season is where teams really start to wave the
white flag if they're not within a few games of the eighth spot, but this
year has been a different story.

本賽季之前，在聯盟方與各球隊老闆洽談關於附加賽制度的時候，全部三十支球隊的主管
及球員都一致批准了這項計劃。所以，目前來講，已經沒有理由不讓該賽制作為NBA 賽季
之一部分進行。這個賽制的主要目的在於激發那些不是潛在冠軍競爭者的球隊在季賽期間
的競爭力。過往假如本身的戰績距離第八名差了一大截，每個賽季的最後一個月通常都是
這些球隊舉白旗投降的時候，但今年出現的卻是不同一回事了。

In the East, the Raptors and Bulls are just two games back of the Wizards for
the 10th spot in the play-in tournament. While in the West, the Pelicans and
Kings are still technically in the running to make the play-in despite being
4.5 games back of the Warriors for the 10th spot. The play-in tournament does
more than just stop teams from tanking, though, it also gives those teams
near the top of the standings reason to keep winning.

在東區聯盟，暴龍隊、公牛隊的勝差都比第十名的巫師隊少兩場；而在西區聯盟方面，鵜
鶘隊和國王隊雖然距離勇士隊有4.5 場的勝差，不過從技術理論上來講，他們還有晉級季
後賽的機會。附加賽制度不僅僅阻止了球隊消極應戰，更給予了接近排名頂端的球隊繼續
贏球的理由。

Teams like the Blazers, Mavericks, Celtics, Heat, Hawks and Hornets are all
trying to avoid the seventh spot in the final standings. Whichever team
finishes seventh in each conference still must play at least one more game in
the play-in tournament to determine their seeding, which isn't ideal ahead of
the playoffs.

而諸如拓荒者隊、獨行俠隊、塞爾蒂克隊、熱火隊、老鷹隊、鵜鶘隊等球隊，目前全都在
盡力避免在各區聯盟的最終排名中位居第七，因為這會讓他們必須再多打至少一場比賽，
以確定種子順位，而這會導致他們在季後賽開始前便處於劣勢。

Although this season hasn't been ideal given its compact timeline, limited
fans, if any, in the arena, the rise in player injuries and health and safety
protocols, the play-in tournament has certainly been positive among all of
this. It's kept these late-season games compelling as seeding has become inc-
redibly important down the stretch, and its resulted in some historic perfor-
mances in the final month from players like Stephen Curry who is trying to
will his team to a playoff spot. It's unclear what format the play-in tourna-
ment will take going forward, but keeping it part of the NBA schedule seems
like a smart idea for a league that is trying to limit tanking.

雖然不論從緊凑賽程、觀賽球迷數量限制、球員傷病次數的上升、健康與安全措施等因素
來看，都導致本賽季不盡理想，這附加賽制度無疑是正面的。這使得例行賽季末的比賽變
得更加矚目，且更讓歷史性表現在最後一個月時繼續出現，如正努力帶領球隊鎖定季後賽
席位的 Stephen Curry。目前雖然無法確定未來的季後賽會採用什麼制度，不過讓它融入
成為NBA 賽程的一部分看來是能阻止消極應戰的好想法。


短評：

看來聯盟是在想著辦法，保持賽事的精彩度吧？

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