It might be a full-fledged Cup competition someday ... but Tuesday's return of the In-Season Tournament (now officially the Emirates NBA Cup) reminds us that we're still a long way off
One more thought- what if the Cup has some draft incentives- say finalists get extra ping pong combinations? It may not help genuine contenders but if your season is doomed anyways this could improve your chances at capture the Cooper!
You seem to be a bit of an introvert (as much as a journalist of 30 year can possibly claim to be) that seem to stay close to hotels and spend afternoons browsing for good restaurants. You vacations seems to be not much about the place but more about some sort of sporting event at the destination… so what the fascination with Vegas? Doesn’t seem to be that a place will matter much based on what you do and like…
Vegas obviously has tons of restaurants (which hold great appeal) but is also fueled by a unique sports energy that hooks me. Sports is always in the air in Vegas. I love that. I have zero interest in sports betting and, yet, I can't wait to sit in a sports book watching 20 screens at once.
I am indeed a hotel addict -- somewhat scary how well you know me just by reading me Xavier -- but you also have to understand: Vegas was in our conference in college. Going there and playing the glory-days Runnin' Rebels in basketball was a MAJOR MAJOR thing. So that also feeds into my Vegas love and nostalgia.
Weirdly enough, we have lots in common, as it seems we share many of our youth sports heroes and likes on things like movies, etc. (a bizarre thing given that I grew up in Puerto, meaning I watched most of what you did in Spanish!). So, I get the nostalgia angle; that makes lots of sense. I travel to Vegas occasionally; I also do not have any interest in betting, so most of the time, I find myself having to force myself to go out and do stuff, which usually ends up being looking for a show to watch. Next time I am in town, I'll try the sports angle and let you know if it works for me.
I hope at some point in the future, they at least need to make the games go all at one time -- In true "March Madness" form...
Breaking it up with regular games in between the pool play games definitely halts the momentum to me.
Enjoyed the rant, however! 😝
If the Lakers win the Cup, again, though, I will relish it with pride. Might be the high point of the season once again! Need that happy moment to console myself with the inevitable disappointment in April and beyond... 😣😔
Strongly agree other leagues should get an invite. Say top six teams from other leagues and team consisting of current FAs / retired players? G League reigning champs?
Hi Marc, I pretty much agree with you about the NBA Cup. Massive gimmick that doesn’t add a lot. I like the idea of inviting teams from other leagues but not sure it’s feasible. All the good European teams are also involved with Euroleague in addition to their domestic leagues. Also, last I checked the quarterfinals and semifinals are also double counted as regular season games. Only the championship game is truly its own thing.
You're totally right about the math. But I separated the group play and the knockout rounds for the purposes of the column cause the knockout games are tournament matchups that get transformed into regular-season games that weren't yet on the schedule ... if that makes sense.
One more thought- what if the Cup has some draft incentives- say finalists get extra ping pong combinations? It may not help genuine contenders but if your season is doomed anyways this could improve your chances at capture the Cooper!
I am 100% here for your curmudgeonly Cup takes *and* the Artis Gilmore reference. Maybe the best 'fro/name combo in NBA history.
Artis Gilmore isn't just an All-Lefty legend ... constant references to him by Kenny Reeves on the White Shadow immortalized Artis for me!
Something tells me, of course, that Purcell wants to make this about the Kentucky Colonels!
Haha...I decided to refrain for once. ;-)
The Atlanta Hawks play the Champs in Boston in their first cup game so my interest in the Cup is already gone.
Holy smokes they won anyway! I’m back in, baby!
You seem to be a bit of an introvert (as much as a journalist of 30 year can possibly claim to be) that seem to stay close to hotels and spend afternoons browsing for good restaurants. You vacations seems to be not much about the place but more about some sort of sporting event at the destination… so what the fascination with Vegas? Doesn’t seem to be that a place will matter much based on what you do and like…
Man!
Harsh (but fair) scouting report!
Vegas obviously has tons of restaurants (which hold great appeal) but is also fueled by a unique sports energy that hooks me. Sports is always in the air in Vegas. I love that. I have zero interest in sports betting and, yet, I can't wait to sit in a sports book watching 20 screens at once.
I am indeed a hotel addict -- somewhat scary how well you know me just by reading me Xavier -- but you also have to understand: Vegas was in our conference in college. Going there and playing the glory-days Runnin' Rebels in basketball was a MAJOR MAJOR thing. So that also feeds into my Vegas love and nostalgia.
Weirdly enough, we have lots in common, as it seems we share many of our youth sports heroes and likes on things like movies, etc. (a bizarre thing given that I grew up in Puerto, meaning I watched most of what you did in Spanish!). So, I get the nostalgia angle; that makes lots of sense. I travel to Vegas occasionally; I also do not have any interest in betting, so most of the time, I find myself having to force myself to go out and do stuff, which usually ends up being looking for a show to watch. Next time I am in town, I'll try the sports angle and let you know if it works for me.
I hope at some point in the future, they at least need to make the games go all at one time -- In true "March Madness" form...
Breaking it up with regular games in between the pool play games definitely halts the momentum to me.
Enjoyed the rant, however! 😝
If the Lakers win the Cup, again, though, I will relish it with pride. Might be the high point of the season once again! Need that happy moment to console myself with the inevitable disappointment in April and beyond... 😣😔
Need the Celtics to win it and not raise a banner to make the Lakers look like fools 😅
Strongly agree other leagues should get an invite. Say top six teams from other leagues and team consisting of current FAs / retired players? G League reigning champs?
G League reigning champs doesn’t work well because the rosters change so much every year
Lakers Nation ambitions for 2024-25 season… Win the Cup!!
Hang the Banner! Banner 19!!! 🏆
😂😂
Hi Marc, I pretty much agree with you about the NBA Cup. Massive gimmick that doesn’t add a lot. I like the idea of inviting teams from other leagues but not sure it’s feasible. All the good European teams are also involved with Euroleague in addition to their domestic leagues. Also, last I checked the quarterfinals and semifinals are also double counted as regular season games. Only the championship game is truly its own thing.
You're totally right about the math. But I separated the group play and the knockout rounds for the purposes of the column cause the knockout games are tournament matchups that get transformed into regular-season games that weren't yet on the schedule ... if that makes sense.
Your larger point is noted, though. Only the championship game is truly its own thing. Well said.
Ah yes I see. The group games are regular season games that would have occurred regardless
Even though your math is totally right ... in my head I separated the first 60 games of group play from the seven knockout games.