Myles Turner think part of the reason Indiana Pacers became a team capable of making a deep run into the playoffs last season thanks to the tournament in the season.
And he can’t wait for Round 2.
Groups playing for the second edition of the tournament — now renamed the Emirates National Basketball Association (NBA) Cup — announced by the NBA on Friday. The event will begin on November 12 and culminate in the finals in Las Vegas on December 17.
The Los Angeles Lakers beat Indiana in the final of last year’s inaugural tournament, capping off an event in which the league used different court designs and uniforms — in part to make sure viewers knew that these games, though all part of the regular season, were supposed to have different feels and meanings.
“It got us noticed as a unit,” Turner said. “We don’t get a lot of games on TV, so that exposure was not only good for us but for the city. It really helped us throughout the season. We got some real positive momentum out of it.”
Prizes: trophy and cash.
Each player on the winning team will receive $514,971, while each player on the runner-up team will receive $205,988, $102,994 for players whose teams lost in the semi-finals and $51,497 for players whose teams lost in the quarter-finals.
“The feedback from players was that last year the tournament was very competitive,” he said. CJ McCollumthe New Orleans quarterback and president of the National Basketball Players Association. “The jerseys are different and the court is different. The fact that you’re competing for something that’s outside of what you’d normally compete for throughout the season, the opportunity to win a trophy in the middle of the season is nice and obvious, the financial implications make a difference as well. Overall, guys just love competing.”
The tournament will designate seven days as “Cup Nights”, which are November 12, November 15, November 19, November 22, November 26, November 29 and December 3. Teams will play Cup matches on four of those seven nights, with each team playing the other teams in their group.
The quarterfinals will take place on December 10 and 11. The semi-finals will take place in Las Vegas on December 14, followed by the final three nights later.
Every game counts toward the previous season’s regular season standings — except for the finals, which is technically the 83rd game between the two finalists.
“When you give them something to compete for, it makes the game a lot more fun,” McCollum said.
East Group A
Team: New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Brooklyn, Charlotte.
Analysis: The deepest group in the East, at least at the top, with three very strong teams in the Knicks, Magic and 76ers leading the way.
East Group B
Team: MilwaukeeIndiana, Miami, Toronto, Detroit.
Analysis: This is a tournament that proved Indiana’s ability last season and it’s reasonable to think the Pacers will once again be serious.
Eastern Group C
Team: Boston, Cleveland, Chicago, Atlanta, Washington.
Analysis: The defending champion Celtics have home games against Cleveland and Atlanta, followed by away games against Washington and Chicago — two teams likely in rebuilding stages.
West Group A
Team: State of Minnesota, LA Clippers Basketball Team, Sacramento, Houston, Portland.
Analysis: Another group where three or even four teams can say they hope to win and reach the quarter-finals.
West Group B
Team: Oklahoma City, PhoenixLos Angeles Lakers, State of Utah, San Antonio.
Analysis: The toughest group on paper. The Thunder, Suns and defending league champions the Lakers are all expected to do well, and the Spurs should be much better next season than they were last season. Victor Wembanyamarookie year of.
West Group C
Team: Denver, DallasNew Orleans, Golden State, Memphis.
Analysis: The full schedule hasn’t been released yet and isn’t expected to be played until next month, but there’s one game that’s sure to grab attention — Dallas vs. Golden State, with a date to be announced later, which could feature the former Warriors guard. Klay Thompson of first match in the Bay as a guest.
According to The Associated Press.
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