{"id":1362018,"date":"2021-05-11T19:04:44","date_gmt":"2021-05-11T23:04:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/?p=1362018"},"modified":"2021-05-11T19:04:45","modified_gmt":"2021-05-11T23:04:45","slug":"evan-wasch-guy-lebron-james-wanted-fired-doubles-down-defending-nba-play-in-tournament","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/evan-wasch-guy-lebron-james-wanted-fired-doubles-down-defending-nba-play-in-tournament\/","title":{"rendered":"Evan Wasch, the Guy LeBron James Wanted Fired, Doubles Down in Defending the NBA Play-In Tournament"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Just over a week ago, following a Los Angeles Lakers<\/a> loss to the Toronto Raptors, a loss that inched the Lakers closer to having to participate in the upcoming NBA play-in tournament<\/a>, LeBron James<\/a> ripped the new concept and even went as far as to call for the firing of its creator. <\/p>\n\n\n\n While there really isn't one single person responsible for the new tournament, Evan Wasch, whose official title is Executive Vice President of Basketball Strategy & Analytics, is essentially the league's designated “play-in guy” and hasn't had any problem defending the concept since James made his comments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For those who may have missed it, the Lakers took a 121-114 loss at home on May 2 to the lowly Raptors, who, outside of a four-day stretch in February have been under .500 the entire season and have zero chance of making the postseason. <\/p>\n\n\n\n James, who was playing just his second game since March 20 and hasn't played since due to an ankle injury, scored 19 points in 28 minutes in the loss but didn't play the final six minutes and 42 seconds after experiencing soreness in that same injured ankle. The loss dropped the Lakers to 36-28 and into the No. 6 spot in the Western Conference. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Per the new rules this season, only the top six teams in each conference are guaranteed a spot in the postseason while seeds seven through 10 are relegated to the play-in tournament. When asked about it after the game, this is what James had to say: <\/p>\n\n\n\n “Whoever came up with that s— needs to be fired.”<\/p>LeBron James<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Come on, LeBron, tell us how you really feel. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Funny how he didn't seem to have a problem with his top-seeded Lakers waiting on the winner of the Blazers-Grizzlies play-in game last fall in the Orlando bubble. But I digress. <\/p>\n\n\n\nLeBron James blasted the new NBA play-in tournament and called for the firing of its creator<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Evan Wasch, the NBA's designated ‘play-in guy,' continues to take the high road when responding to LeBron's criticism<\/h2>\n\n\n\n