The first NBA In-Season Tournament drew a lot of excitement! Sports Business Journal reports a significant increase in viewership for Tuesday and Friday games in November compared to last season. Social media buzzed with opinions about the vibrant courts. I suggest adding 3-D graphics resembling a hole, but that’s just my idea. The scoring at the end of games went up because of the emphasis on point differential. Players were enthusiastic, discussing their desire to win $500K and participate in Las Vegas.
After a month of group play, the tournament has reached the knockout stage, where the top eight teams will vie for the NBA Cup. Matches will take place in teams’ home markets on Monday and Tuesday, while the semifinals and final on Thursday and Saturday will be held in Las Vegas. In this preview, let’s delve into the remaining tournament matchups.
Boston secured victories against Brooklyn, Toronto, and Chicago but faced a setback against Orlando in group play. Meanwhile, Indiana emerged undefeated, triumphing over Cleveland, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Detroit.
Scoring a tournament-high 546 points, Indiana’s offensive prowess isn’t surprising, given their top rank in offensive pace and efficiency this season. However, their defensive struggles are evident, conceding 507 points, ranking last in defensive efficiency.
Boston stands out as one of the league’s best and well-rounded teams, ranking sixth in offensive efficiency and third in defensive efficiency. Although they dominated Indiana with a 155-104 win earlier in the season, it’s worth noting that the game was in Boston, and key players like Kristaps Porzingis played, while Tyrese Haliburton did not. Porzingis is questionable for Monday’s game, which will be in Indiana, where the Pacers hold a 6-5 record, while the Celtics are 6-4 on the road compared to their perfect 9-0 record at home.
Sacramento had a successful run in group play, securing victories against Oklahoma City, San Antonio, Minnesota, and Golden State. On the other hand, New Orleans experienced a loss to Houston but managed wins against Dallas, Denver, and the Clippers.
Looking at the season stats, Sacramento ranks 12th in offensive efficiency and 20th in defensive efficiency. In group play, their point differential was +30, scoring 483 points and conceding 452. While their performance was commendable, six other teams in the tournament had a higher point differential.
New Orleans boasted a +33 point differential, scoring 463 points and allowing 430 during group play. In two matchups two weeks ago, both hosted in New Orleans, the Pelicans secured victories of 129-93 and 117-112 against Sacramento. Remarkably, the Pelicans weren’t at full strength in those contests, but now they have CJ McCollum and Trey Murphy III back in the rotation. However, the upcoming game is in Sacramento, where the Kings hold a 5-2 record, while the Pelicans have a 3-5 record on the road.
Milwaukee and New York faced off in the same group, with Milwaukee going undefeated by defeating New York, Charlotte, Washington, and Miami. Meanwhile, New York secured wins against Washington, Miami, and Charlotte, with their only loss coming from Milwaukee.
Milwaukee, alongside Indiana, was the only team to score over 500 points in group play. On the defensive side, New York stood out as the only team not allowing 400 points.
Milwaukee ranks fifth in offensive efficiency but sits at 21st in defensive efficiency. Conversely, New York is 16th in offensive efficiency and sixth in defensive efficiency. The Bucks hold the third spot in offensive pace, while the Knicks are at the bottom. Their playing styles couldn’t be more different.
The upcoming game is in Milwaukee, where the Bucks boast an 8-1 record. New York, with a respectable 6-4 record on the road, faces a challenging matchup.
In their previous meeting, Milwaukee secured a 110-105 victory at home, shooting 20-of-39 from downtown. The question remains whether they can replicate this performance, considering New York’s solid 3-point field goal percentage defense, ranking 10th in the league.
In the same group, the Lakers remained undefeated, securing wins against Phoenix, Memphis, Portland, and Utah. Phoenix, in turn, notched victories over Utah, Portland, and Memphis. The Lakers prevailed 122-119 in their group play matchup, and they also won the season’s second game 100-95. Devin Booker missed both games, and his current ankle injury raises questions about his availability, a crucial factor for Phoenix. The Lakers dominated group play with a massive +74 point differential, the highest by a wide margin, scoring 494 points while allowing 420. Phoenix had a respectable +34.
Despite coping with injuries, Phoenix ranks 17th in defensive efficiency and 10th in offensive efficiency. In contrast, the Lakers, who are 10th in defensive efficiency, struggle offensively, holding the 23rd rank. Inconsistencies have plagued the Lakers, evident in their 2-3 record over the last five games, marked by alternating wins and losses.
The upcoming game is in Los Angeles, where the Lakers hold a 7-2 record. Phoenix, however, boasts an impressive 7-3 record on the road, despite a 4-5 record at home. With the Pelicans strengthening their lineup, it seems The Beam will shine with a Kings win.
Even if Porzingis sits out, the Celtics, one of the league’s most balanced teams, are formidable. Haliburton’s brilliance and the Pacers’ explosive offense are notable, but their defense remains vulnerable.
Predicting the Knicks to triumph in Milwaukee, relying on solid defense and Jalen Brunson’s impressive form, especially given Milwaukee’s unlikely 50 percent shooting from downtown being replicated.
Looking ahead, Phoenix or Los Angeles seems poised to face Sacramento in the West, while in the East, it’s a showdown between New York and Boston. Favoring either a Phoenix team with Booker or Los Angeles over Sacramento in Vegas. Ultimately, Boston is expected to emerge as the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament champions, taking care of business against all contenders.