2024 NBA Cup: Live updates, highlights, more

In England, for instance, there are the assorted divisions — led by the Premier League — and in addition the FA Cup competitors. However not like these European leagues, which play their cup competitions outdoors of their league schedules, the NBA Cup is constructed into the regular-season slate.

The 30 NBA groups had been cut up into six five-team teams — three that includes Jap Convention groups, and three comprising groups from the West — with every group then taking part in one sport in opposition to the opposite 4 of their group. The winner of every group, plus the group with the most effective document among the many nongroup winners, will then advance to the knockout rounds.

How will this affect the regular-season schedule and standings?

Usually, the NBA sends out a full 82-game schedule in mid-August. Now, although, the league sends out solely 80 video games and leaves a niche for roughly per week to fill in later, relying on how the group stage of the NBA Cup performs out.

The groups that attain the NBA Cup’s finale will truly play 83 video games — although the championship sport will not depend towards the standings or any statistical markers. People who lose within the semifinals could have performed their full 82-game schedule and will not want something added.

The 2 groups from each the East and West that lose within the quarterfinals will play their 82nd sport in opposition to each other on considered one of 4 dates: Dec. 12, 13, 15 or 16. In the meantime, the 22 groups that fail to qualify for the knockout rounds could have their last two video games scheduled — one at dwelling and one on the highway — on Dec. 12 or 13 and 15 or 16 in opposition to others eradicated within the group stage.

Why does the NBA Cup embrace regular-season video games?

Earlier than its launch, one of many most important questions surrounding the in-season match was why any group can be incentivized to compete in it. By making each sport a part of the season — and, being in-conference, doubtlessly essential from a playoff-tiebreaker standpoint — the NBA ensured groups shall be motivated.

If this had been arrange just like the cup tournaments in European soccer, there would have been nothing stopping NBA groups from opting out, actually or figuratively — sitting their prime gamers for further relaxation.

What groups make up the teams?

To create the teams, the NBA put all 15 groups in every convention into 5 pots, separated by their end in final season’s standings. Pot 1 included the groups that completed 1-3 in regular-season document, groups 4-6 went into Pot 2, groups 7-9 into Pot 3, groups 10-12 into Pot 4 and groups 13-15 into Pot 5.

Consequently, the next teams had been drawn:

East A: New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets
East B: Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors, Detroit Pistons
East C: Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards

West A: Minnesota Timberwolves, LA Clippers, Sacramento Kings, Houston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers
West B: Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Lakers, Utah Jazz, San Antonio Spurs
West C: Denver Nuggets, Dallas Mavericks, New Orleans Pelicans, Golden State Warriors, Memphis Grizzlies

Does one group stand out probably the most from the others?

Sure, there’s an apparent one: West Group C, that includes the Nuggets, Mavericks, Pelicans, Warriors and Grizzlies.

Due to how the draw is carried out, Golden State and Memphis, which handled a mix of suspensions and accidents, are considerably stronger than you’ll anticipate groups within the backside two pots to be.

However along with that includes the reigning MVP in Nikola Jokic and Zion Williamson, the group additionally might provide the primary assembly between Klay Thompson and his former group after the guard signed with Dallas following 13 seasons with Golden State.

What do gamers get for successful?

Final 12 months, the gamers on the successful group obtained $500,000 every, whereas these on the runners-up bought $200,000. The dropping gamers of the semifinals every bought $100,000, and people ousted within the quarterfinals every bought $50,000.

This 12 months, the prizes shall be barely larger due to negotiated raises 12 months over 12 months to maintain tempo with will increase within the wage cap and basketball associated revenue as a part of the most recent collective bargaining agreement between the NBA and the Nationwide Basketball Gamers Affiliation.

Will anybody earn particular person honors for his or her play in NBA Cup video games?

There shall be an MVP award, in addition to an all-tournament group.

Will this have any affect on the playoffs?

Not past the video games counting within the regular-season standings (and towards tiebreakers). Although there was debate amongst league insiders about guaranteeing a playoff berth for successful the match, finally that concept (or every other to additional incentivize groups) was not enacted.

The controversy continued after final 12 months’s in-season match winner, the Lakers, wound up within the play-in match, whereas the runner-up, the Pacers, narrowly averted touchdown in it. However, in the long run, the one playoff affect comes from the wins and losses accrued all through the match.

Why is it referred to as the Emirates NBA Cup?

The league struck a sponsorship cope with Emirates, the Dubai-based airline, to sponsor the match after its preliminary run. The NBA mentioned final 12 months that it went with probably the most fundamental titles for each the match and its trophy — the “in-season match” and “NBA Cup” — as a method to introduce the idea to followers.

Nonetheless, utilizing such nondescript names had one other clear benefit: It gave the league a clean slate in case the match and cup turned properties it ended up promoting to a sponsor, and averted the issues that might come up by naming them after somebody (for instance, the late NBA commissioner David Stern, one chance that had been floated earlier than the match was formally unveiled).