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| Toumani Camara does not mind critics saying that Portland should stay as the eighth seed after stunning Phoenix in a play-in game to move up to the seventh seed. Imagn (file photo) |
PASIG--Since its first implementation in 2020, the NBA Play-In Tournament has seen wild postseason scenarios happen.
One of which is seeing Portland, who should have barely entered the playoffs as the eighth seed at 42-40 in the old rules, jumping to the seventh seed after dropping Phoenix, which ended the regular season 45-37, in their classification game.
Instead of a tall task of dethroning the Oklahoma City Thunder as the defending champions early into the playoffs, the Trail Blazers instead set up a first-round encounter against the upstart San Antonio Spurs.
This led to some NBA fans lashing out at the league on X at how the Play-In Tournament just made the postseason more complicated.
When asked about his reaction, Toumani Camara said early Saturday that those are just outside noises distracting them.
"The NBA decides whatever happens within the NBA, so if the NBA decides to have a play-in, then that's how you deserve to have your seventh or eighth seed," Camara said.
"That's what the NBA wants to do, and that's what it is. I don't think it matters what the people think."
He added that the recent sentiments of some fans are not what the majority thinks about the additional postseason round.
"I think a lot of people appreciate the play-in," Camara further said.
He also said that he has done enough to show what he can contribute to Portland's playoff run and that he does not need to prove any further.
"I don't think I need to prove anything to anybody. Everybody is entitled to their own opinion. If they think we don't belong to the seventh seed, it's sad for them," Camara further said.
The six-foot-seven forward improved on his numbers in his third year in the NBA and second as a full-time starter.
Camara averaged 13.4 points on 37 percent three-point shooting and 70.8 percent free-throw shooting and 1.1 steals per game, virtually matching his numbers from his final year in the collegiate ranks at Dayton back in 2023.
Camara also tallied a career-high 2.5 assists per game during the regular season.
In the showdown against the Suns for the seventh seed, Camara, named to the All-Defensive Second Team last year, tallied a game-high four steals alongside eight points and four rebounds.
