The first edition of the much talked about NBA In-Season Tournament finally reaches Las Vegas: let’s analyze the challenges.
The inaugural edition of NBA Cup finally reaches its final act. The tournament, already a success both from the point of view of competitiveness and TV ratings and social interactions. The four teams currently in Las Vegas (T-Mobile Arena) are the Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers for the Eastern Conference, while the Los Angeles Lakers and New Orleans Pelicans will compete for the Western Conference. Let’s proceed with the preview of the two challenges of this “Final Four”.
NBA IN-SEASON TOURNAMENT
SEMI-FINALS
Milwaukee Bucks (#1) – Indiana Pacers (#2)
⏰ 23:00 (Sky Sport 1 e SKY Sport NBA)
As we will see, in both Conferences the challenge is between a contender for the title and an outsider. THE Milwaukee Bucks they easily swept the New York Knicks in the quarterfinals, thus arriving in Las Vegas with a more than convincing performance. Giannis Antetokounmpo e Damian Lillard they proved to be a couple that would be difficult to beat, at least in one single match. This is strange, in a way, given that the two have not yet actively collaborated in the field. In fact, Lillard often uses Brook Lopez as a pick-and-roll partner, while the Greek prefers Khris Middleton for that play. The pick-and-roll is the main play of these Bucks, who have undoubtedly changed their style of play under the guidance of coach Griffin. Compared to the past, without the presence of Jrue Holiday, the Bucks’ defense is certainly not the one that allowed them to win the title just a few seasons ago. What is certain is the need for the two superstars Lillard and Antetokounmpo to play together.
Not bad for the Bucks defense, given that the Indiana Pacers it’s even worse, if not one of the worst in the League. The Indianapolis team, for its part, also has the best attack in NBA history. This statement is certainly not an exaggeration, given that the numbers bear witness to this both in terms of points scored and efficiency of the attack. On top of that, the Pacers have already done their job by getting all the way to Las Vegas by beating the much more favored Boston Celtics in the quarterfinals. This victory, which is difficult to predict, has certainly increased the self-esteem of the players, who will go onto the pitch to attempt the second upset of the tournament against the Bucks. Much will pass through the hands of Tyrese Haliburton, the true beacon of the best attack in the League. The former Sacramento Kings led the Pacers to victory against the Celtics with yet another phenomenal performance of this season still in its infancy. Defensively, given what they play, the Pacers players have only one diktat: don’t allow three-point shots. This will certainly be a lively challenge that will be decided in attack.
Los Angeles Lakers (#1) – New Orleans Pelicans (#3)
⏰ 3:00 (Sky Sport 1 e SKY Sport NBA)
In the Western Conference i Los Angeles Lakers they play practically at home in Las Vegas. It is not just a geographical proximity, but it is the most famous franchise globally in the most representative city of American glitz. To get to this point in the tournament, LeBron James he showed how much he cares about this new NBA initiative. The dominant performance against the Phoenix Suns in the quarterfinals is something that, once again, makes us question human limits. At nearly 39 years old, “King James” has rewritten every history book regarding competitiveness and longevity in basketball. In Las Vegas it will once again be “The Kid from Akron” who will drag the yellow-purple towards victory in the NBA Cup. The help of Anthony Davis, as well as that of Austin Reaves (fundamental against the Suns), will be of vital importance to pass the turn.
I New Orleans Pelicans they confirmed their excellent start to the season in the victory against the Sacramento Kings in the quarterfinals. Finally complete, the Pelicans scare any of the contenders. The victory against the Californians raised a doubt about Zion Williamson: In a game where his physicality didn’t make an impact, the Pelicans star played less than 30 minutes. His certainly not exceptional performances in defense left coach Green no choice: the #1 was sent to the bench and the team performed much better than before. This probably won’t happen tonight, given that a player like the former Duke player cannot sit on the bench in the decisive moments of such an important game. Dyson Daniels and Herb Jones will be fundamental from a defensive point of view: Jones in particular will have the thankless task of limiting LeBron James during the game. New Orleans can count on a rather deep and impactful team and bench with CJ McCollum, Brandon Ingram and Jose Alvarado.
2023-12-07 10:46:50
#NBA #InSeason #Tournament #preview #semifinals
