This Friday the tournament starts in the American League, where the 30 teams of the league will participate in search of a new title. The final, on December 9 in Las Vegas
The desire to create a European-style Cup in the NBA had been coming for a long time. A tournament with which to reward another winning team in addition to the one that takes the ring at the end of June, with the incentive that this represents for fans and players, as a way to break the monotony of the very long and sometimes not very competitive season regular. And, furthermore, as a counterpoint to that increasingly declining show called All Star. So this week, after 77 years of history in the best basketball league in the world, what has been called the In-Season Tournament opens. So far everything is perfect. But if it comes to finding out how the NBA Cup is resolved, grab a pen and paper.
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Nothing to do, at the moment, with the usual and successful European-style format, invented years ago by the ACB (and copied by the rest of the continental leagues), in which the eight best teams from the first round of the competition meet a weekend in February in a city to quickly determine the Cup champion, del Rey in Spain. As a first point of clarification, it must be taken into account that all the games in the NBA tournament are also part of the league season itself. That is, they are not exclusive. All except the final, which will be held on December 9 at the T Mobile in Las Vegas.
A few weeks ago, in a meeting with a small group of media taking advantage of the visit of the Dallas Mavericks to Madrid, the deputy commissioner Mark Tatumright hand of Adam Silver, spoke about how the League itself is trying to explain the new concept in the American mentality, even to those who will be protagonists of it. «There are many groups that we have had to talk to and the players are a critical part. We have acquired many learnings from them. 25% of our players were born outside the United States and have played in systems with many competitions per year. “They spoke with the rest of their teammates to explain the benefits,” said the leader, who acknowledged having to “educate the fans.”
The first task is to make everyone notice that these regular season matches that begin this Friday have a double value and a “special meaning.” That its result also counts for the In-Season Tournament. “Those games are going to be presented differently,” Tatum said. And for this, technology: each of the 30 NBA courts will be personalized, with three lanes and with vibrant and striking colors. In the central circle you can see a large NBA Cup, as well as other details that will help the most clueless fan. It is also possible that the franchises wear different kits.
Every Tuesday and Friday until November 28 (except on the 7th due to the elections in the United States), the 30 NBA teams, divided into six groups (three per conference) according to the number of victories last year, will play the four matches of the first phase (by draw to play two at home and two as visitors) from which the eight qualifiers will emerge (the six best in each group plus the two best seconds in each conference) to meet in the quarterfinals, November 4 and 5. The four winners will travel to Las Vegas where the semifinals and final (Final Four format) will be played, all in a single match.
And back on December 9, the first winner of the In-Season Tourment will be known, the first to lift a trophy other than the famous one. Larry O’Brien. It remains to be seen with what intensity the players will face it and the franchises will get involved, but, for now, the NBA’s incentive is also financial. Each player on the winning team will take 500,000 dollars, 200,000 for the finalists, 100,000 for playing in the semifinals and half, 50,000 for losing in the quarterfinals. There will also be an award for the MVP and an All-Tournament Team.
«New traditions take time. But, in all sports, we are seeing innovations, and now is the time for this NBA seasonal tournament,” confessed Adam Silver, about a concept they had been working on for 15 years. «We thought it was a perfect opportunity for a global league like the NBA and it fits perfectly with our game, he admitted.
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2023-10-31 18:14:26
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