The NBA Cup is fun for everyone
The NBA Cup has been a win-win.
The league has been trying to revive interest in the regular season for years. While the Emirates NBA Cup hasn’t totally accomplished this goal, it sure has provided some spice for the early months of the season.
The first sip
I was a skeptic of last year’s attempt at an “In-Season Tournament” because I didn’t think anyone would actually care about the results. I was correct, in part, as the Los Angeles Lakers winning the first tournament hardly meant anything in the long run. But, I was wrong about how entertaining this whole thing proved to be.
The intensity level of these tournament games is much higher than a standard regular season game. Winning the NBA Cup isn’t the same as winning the Larry O’Brien. But the natural competitive instinct of professional athletes is hard to ignore when a new shining trophy is dangled in front of them.
The excitement of the NBA Cup was contagious. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel a sting of jealousy last season as the Cleveland Cavaliers missed out on the tournament after failing to qualify in the group stage. This season, I’ll be rooting for them to break through.
Cleveland drew a favorable group last year with the Indiana Pacers ultimately being the team to beat. This time, the Cavs will have to topple the defending champs as they share a group with the Boston Celtics. It’s a tougher matchup but it will be even sweeter if they succeed.
The NBA Cup hasn’t fully revived the regular season. Everything after the All-Star Break can still feel like a slog. Sometimes, that slog begins even earlier depending on the team. Still, the tournament has succeeded in adding a genuinely interesting wrinkle to each season. It might not hold the same weight as the Playoffs but I’d imagine the NBA Cup is here to stay — and I’m not complaining.
Random Cavalier of the Day - Bingo Smith
A true Cavalier legend, Bingo Smith’s #7 jersey has hung in the Cleveland rafters since 1979. He played over 700 games in a Cavalier uniform and ranks third in franchise history for career field goals. If that isn’t enough, Smith rocked a sweet afro that would make Jarrett Allen proud.