The NBA has announced the five-team groups for this year’s in-season tournament, now renamed the Emirates NBA Cup, the league announced in a release on Friday (Twitter link).
Like last year, there are six groups — three each from the Western Conference and Eastern Conference — and each conference was split into five groups based on last year’s standings. One team was selected at random from each group to determine the group round matchups.
The results are:
- West Group A: Timberwolves, Clippers, Kings, Rockets and Trail Blazers
- West Group B: Thunder, Suns, Lakers, Jazz and Spurs
- West Group C: Nuggets, Mavericks, Pelicans, Warriors and Grizzlies
- East Group A: Knicks, Magic, Sixers, Nets and Hornets
- East Group B: Bucks, Pacers, Heat, Raptors and Pistons
- East Group C: Celtics, Cavaliers, Bulls, Hawks and Wizards
The NBA Cup begins with group play, which runs from Nov. 12 to Dec. 3. Each team plays one game against each of the four opponents in its group. The NBA released a matchup matrix to help fans follow along (Twitter link).
Just like last season, the winner of each group advances to a knockout round alongside the team with the best record in each conference that didn’t win a group. The semifinals and finals will again be played in T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Last year, the Lakers won the inaugural in-season tournament over the Pacers. LeBron James was named the tournament MVP after dropping 24 points in the title game.
The full game and broadcast schedule for group play will be announced next month.
West group C is murderers row man. Arguably all five title contenders. Wild!
The warriors are not contenders
WARRIORS not even making the play-in.
Why again is this a thing?!
Can’t believe any professional sports league is doing this.
Classless. Money grabbing.
Perhaps during halftime the Commissioner could organize fashion shows where the players and cheerleaders come out in overly priced kool klothing that can be purchased in the team store as the fans exit. The ball girls/boys could then pick up the spare change thrown on the court. It can be divided 80-20 with the 80 going to the players and the 20 to the team.
Get some rap stars to come out at halftime as well to talk a rap or two while the models are walking around. Just add another 1/3’rd to the price of each ticket. Suckers aplenty out there.
Dude, what are you crying about? You’re making much todo about nothing. It’s just a way to drum up a little more interest in some early regular season games, not the downfall of humanity.
While it’s not the end of humanity it definitely is nothing more than a money grab. If we don’t mind the lakers or any other team “forcing” game 5 for extra money then this isn’t really any different
I doubt its drumming up any interest.. If the team stinks, it stinks, if it can make the playoffs, it will (its not like there are a lack of playoff spots)
These announcements do nothing for real fans. This is just crap masquerading as something important. There’s nothing to incentivize winning whatsoever. This is just as important as the all star game. So nothing resembling relevant.
The games do count for the regular season record. Once they hit the Vegas round nothing matters.
Yeah but it brings a little interest early in the year and before this all we had was opening night and the Christmas Day games lol. This at least makes the guys play defense in the fourth quarter. I like the in season tourney.
The In Season Tourney does not make me want to watch games more. Though the games are Tuesday & Friday they don’t compete with the NFL, I still have football on my mind more than an early season NBA game. I do wonder when the tv rights change if they will try to get bold and change the tourney days to go against football. Won’t be good for them.
I don’t think that’ll ever happen, going against the NFL nights. They’re all in the same business and they’re not stupid.
They finally got a clue a few years ago during the NBA and NHL playoffs and staggered the nights when possible during the Conference Finals and Finals.
Until the winner of the tournament determines home ice advantage for the all star world series cup, I refuse to watch!
Best comment so far. They should give you all access breaking rumors and deals before they are officially released for a month.
I spit my beverage out and thanks for the laugh lol. This in season tournament is a joke and came in for the comments. :)
Agreed. And the screen name really helps because I could just picture Al saying that with his snarky face to Marcy.
This is not a fair tournament at all…some groups stronger than others… would rather just have the top16 teams in a knockout comp with seedings…whether you take that from the previous season, or top 16 at that stage….no point in group stages