The second annual NBA Cup is within the books. How are we feeling about it?
There appears to be plenty of handwringing and brow-furrowing in NBA circles about doubtlessly waning curiosity of their product. With TV rankings in freefall forward of a brand new multi-billion-dollar broadcast deal, occasions such because the NBA Cup tackle outsized significance. Not solely does it need to ship the products as an on-court product, it additionally has to assist restore the sport of basketball on the forefront of the worldwide consciousness.
Did it succeed on these phrases? No, as a result of nothing may. Did it succeed as an entertaining and (often) thrilling framework for the most effective basketball league on earth? Sure – principally.
Let’s Siskel and Ebert our approach by the 2024 NBA Cup.
Thumbs up: It’s totally different!
The NBA common season is a methodical and grueling check of endurance, roster development, and psychological/bodily wherewithal. It’s the most brutal basketball check recognized to man. Whichever staff finally ends up surviving that check – plus one other couple months of extra-brutal playoff basketball – to win the championship completely, positively, unequivocally deserves it.
However even essentially the most die-hard NBA followers would admit their curiosity within the product tends to wane throughout the extra laborious parts of the schedule.
Have you ever ever watched a marathon on TV? Maybe you tuned into the Olympic race, or you already know somebody who certified for Boston or New York. Typical marathon viewers get excited to see the beginning of the race, the leaders, the folks they may know, after which they take a look at for some time till the leaders strategy the end line. It takes a particular form of viewer to look at mile six with the identical depth as mile 24.
The NBA Cup is solely a technique to make miles 6-8 of the marathon a bit extra attention-grabbing.
The NFL dominates informal discourse due largely to the shortage of their product. The NBA can by no means compete on that degree, so it should introduce selection. Occasions such because the NBA Cup are all the time going to have their detractors – armchair quarterbacks who exist solely to criticize something new – however a sports activities league can not evolve with out taking just a few possibilities. The NBA Cup is convoluted, certain, however so is professional sports activities. It means no matter you need it to imply. These 82 video games are occurring with or with no Cup – why not change the context?
Thumbs down: Las Vegas
Look, everyone knows why they maintain the NBA Cup semifinals/finals in Las Vegas. It’s equal elements a check run for the eventual enlargement staff and a nod to the myriad playing sponsors who preserve this league and several other others swimming in money. Las Vegas is uniquely located as a location that may host a serious occasion at a second’s discover, whatever the individuals. It is sensible on paper.
Sadly, the ambiance sucks.
With no precise followers in attendance – simply folks on the lookout for one thing to do – the video games simply really feel, effectively, off. These video games are alleged to be a giant deal, however they’ve the gang power of a random summer time league recreation. Casting the gang in an ominous shadow (prone to cover the variety of empty seats) doesn’t assist both.
The NBA lucked out in final yr’s inaugural in-season match with the Los Angeles Lakers. Not solely is Los Angeles shut sufficient for rich Laker followers to journey, the Lakers are a public staff with essentially the most well-known American athlete. The power was there as a result of the Lakers and LeBron James have been concerned.
The Bucks, Hawks, Thunder, and Rockets – as enjoyable as these groups are – can not generate the identical degree of informal curiosity. Giannis Antetokounmpo made one of the crucial unbelievable performs a human could make to helps seal his staff’s win over the Hawks within the semifinal. Trae Younger (who had a powerful match in his personal proper) threw an excellent lob to Clint Capela, and simply as he was about to slam it down, Giannis met him on the peak and turned him away. Giannis makes the unbelievable appear routine, however this play was exceptional even by his requirements. The group reacted as if it was a facet out-of-bounds play.
If the league needs these video games to really feel vital, take them out of Las Vegas. The staff with the higher file hosts the sport. Actual followers get to attend and make noise. Easy.
Thumbs up: Pool play
I like all of the issues the NBA does to set these video games aside. I’m on board the particular courts (even the ugly ones). I like how sure nights within the schedule are put aside as Cup Nights. I’m on board with all of it.
However at no level am I ever going to concentrate to which staff is in what pod and what these standings are.
As you might need gathered by earlier editions of Elevator Doorways, I’m obsessive about the Denver Nuggets. That is my staff. I’ve been with them for the reason that LaPhonso Ellis days. I used to be watching when Dikembe Mutombo clutched the ball in his fingers and almost cried after the Nuggets upset the Seattle SuperSonics. I used to be watching these ill-fated Nikoloz Tskitishvili video games. I used to be there for the 17 wins in 2002-2003 when the franchise was tanking for LeBron however ended up with Carmelo. I’m presently savoring each magical second Nikola Jokic bestows upon us.
And I had no concept who was in Denver’s pod. I actually had no clue what this staff wanted to do to advance within the match. Level differentials are concerned? At no level am I ever going to concentrate to the machinations of this factor. Inform me who wins. Inform me who performs who when.
It is a characteristic, not a bug.
I’m a fan of something that has a “select your personal journey” factor to it. If you wish to dive absolutely into the weeds and get into pool play and level differentials, that’s there for you. If you happen to simply wish to watch the video games, that’s there for you too. It’s how I approached “Recreation of Thrones.” I watched all the HBO run and loved a stable 80% of it. I by no means learn any of the books and have little interest in any spinoff exhibits. However I like realizing it’s there.
Thumbs down: The officiating
I hate complaining about officiating. It’s a lazy and sometimes biased airing of grievances. These complaints by no means change something, and NBA officers get it appropriate a lot extra typically than they get it flawed.
However once they get it flawed, hoo boy.
I suppose I do not know what a unfastened ball foul is. Golden State’s Jonathan Kuminga acquired whistled for a “accurately assessed” private foul name in a scrum state of affairs with Houston’s Jalen Inexperienced within the Rockets eventual win over the Warriors. The decision got here with 3.5 seconds left in a one-point recreation. I’ve by no means – not as soon as in my life – seen that decision happen, particularly one which fairly actually determined the result of that recreation.
After all, Golden State blew that recreation six alternative ways past that decision, however the name stands out, particularly given what occurred early within the third quarter of the Thunder/Bucks NBA Cup last. Earlier than the sport devolved right into a blowout, the sport was separated by solely 5 factors. Lu Dort managed a unfastened ball earlier than Giannis belly-flopped onto his again, dislodging the ball and forcing a bounce ball. Dort was moderately pissed off with this non-call, as was OKC coach Mark Daigneault. Each have been assessed technical fouls. After Lillard cashed every foul shot, the Bucks managed the bounce ball and Lillard drilled a deep three. This five-point swing began the tidal wave that led to Milwaukee’s dominant victory.
The Bucks earned this win. They have been the far superior staff. OKC missed 27 of its 32 3-point makes an attempt (yuck). However that sequence robbed followers of what may have been a extra aggressive last. What a disgrace.
Thumbs up: Giannis
Holy moly.
It wasn’t that way back when this OKC protection bottled up Luka Doncic. The Thunder have so many younger, athletic, lengthy, swarming, feisty defenders that play fantastically linked protection. If any staff may determine a technique to decelerate the Mediterranean Monster (attempting out some new Giannis nicknames, bear with me), it could be OKC.
They didn’t. Not even shut.
Giannis racked up one other triple double (26/19/10), however that doesn’t come near telling the complete story. Ever for the reason that notorious 2-8 begin to the season, Giannis has determined he’s personally bored with the nonsense. He has all however stopped taking jumpers and as an alternative barrels towards the basket with relentless fury. Seems no one has any solutions for “Giannis drives to the basket.” His passing has all the time been nice, however it has ascended to a different degree. He’s passing guys open – not simply passing to open guys (large distinction).
He was the plain MVP of this convoluted, anticlimactic, often unbelievable midseason occasion. Let’s undoubtedly do that once more subsequent yr, and the yr after that. Lengthy stay the NBA Cup, warts and all.
