Toronto John
Fans' Favourite
I first understood that this was going to be similar to FA Cup .... i.e. additional elimination games throughout the season.
The NBA has instead cobbled together some weird Frankenstein monster, with a Champions League group stage but all games also counting towards the regular 82-game season (except for the Final). A brief description follows, sourced from the NBA.
I. Summary
The inaugural In-Season Tournament will tip off on Friday, Nov. 3 and culminate with the Championship on Saturday, Dec. 9. The Semifinals (Thursday, Dec. 7) and Championship will take place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. For a complete schedule, click here.
The In-Season Tournament will consist of two stages: Group Play and the Knockout Rounds.
> A. Group Play
All 30 teams have been randomly drawn into groups of five within their conference based on won-loss records from the 2022-23 regular season. Beginning Nov. 3 and continuing through Tuesday, Nov. 28, each team will play four designated Group Play games on “Tournament Nights” – one game against each opponent in its group, with two games at home and two on the road.
> B. Knockout Rounds
Eight teams will advance to the Knockout Rounds: the team with the best standing in Group Play games in each of the six groups and two “wild cards” (the team from each conference with the best record in Group Play games that finished second in its group). The Knockout Rounds will be single-elimination games in the Quarterfinals (played in NBA team markets on Monday, Dec. 4 and Tuesday, Dec. 5), Semifinals and Championship. The qualifying teams will compete for a prize pool and the new In-Season Tournament trophy, the NBA Cup.
All 67 games across both stages of the In-Season Tournament will count toward the regular-season standings except the Championship. Each team will continue to play 82 regular-season games in the 2023-24 season, including those games that are part of Group Play and the Knockout Rounds.
The NBA has instead cobbled together some weird Frankenstein monster, with a Champions League group stage but all games also counting towards the regular 82-game season (except for the Final). A brief description follows, sourced from the NBA.
I. Summary
The inaugural In-Season Tournament will tip off on Friday, Nov. 3 and culminate with the Championship on Saturday, Dec. 9. The Semifinals (Thursday, Dec. 7) and Championship will take place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. For a complete schedule, click here.
The In-Season Tournament will consist of two stages: Group Play and the Knockout Rounds.
> A. Group Play
All 30 teams have been randomly drawn into groups of five within their conference based on won-loss records from the 2022-23 regular season. Beginning Nov. 3 and continuing through Tuesday, Nov. 28, each team will play four designated Group Play games on “Tournament Nights” – one game against each opponent in its group, with two games at home and two on the road.
> B. Knockout Rounds
Eight teams will advance to the Knockout Rounds: the team with the best standing in Group Play games in each of the six groups and two “wild cards” (the team from each conference with the best record in Group Play games that finished second in its group). The Knockout Rounds will be single-elimination games in the Quarterfinals (played in NBA team markets on Monday, Dec. 4 and Tuesday, Dec. 5), Semifinals and Championship. The qualifying teams will compete for a prize pool and the new In-Season Tournament trophy, the NBA Cup.
All 67 games across both stages of the In-Season Tournament will count toward the regular-season standings except the Championship. Each team will continue to play 82 regular-season games in the 2023-24 season, including those games that are part of Group Play and the Knockout Rounds.
