So everyone will hate this I’m sure. I think even I might hate it. BUT it would make the all star game competitive I’d hope.

Basically you’d change the play in so that the winning conference play in has 7 locked spots. 8v9 play for 8th. The loser of that and the winner of 10v11 play for an opportunity to get entered into the other conference. The other conference has 6 locked spots. 7v8 play for 7th. 9 plays against the team from the all star winning conference. If the other conference team wins they get 8th seed. If 9 wins they play the loser of 7v8.

It’s a silly idea and adds a game for that team but would add stakes to the all star game. Obvious problem is it undos a bit of the point of the play in on one conference but then opens it up on the other. Also probably too complicated.