PHILADELPHIA — The NBA is experimenting in the 2023-24 season. To try to make games mean more in the November and December portion of the 82-game grind, the league is introducing an in-season tournament for the NBA Cup.
All 30 teams are placed in six groups of five and the winner of group play then goes to the quarterfinals before moving on to the semifinals which will be played in Las Vegas.
The Philadelphia 76ers are in Group A along with the Detroit Pistons, Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers and Atlanta Hawks. The first in-season game for the Sixers will be on Nov. 10 when they take on the Pistons on the road.
It is an interesting idea, but it will be interesting how some players approach it considering the important trophy is, obviously, the Larry O’Brien trophy which represents the NBA champion.
“I’m not sure,” star Joel Embiid said of the in-season tournament. “I think it could be good. We’ve got used to the Larry O’Brien being the main trophy that everybody wants so it’s got to take a little adjusting to kind of figure out that something else is also as important as the main trophy, but, you know, it’s always been about the Larry O’Brien.”
For Embiid, the importance is on winning games, period. Not necessarily on winning this inaugural NBA Cup. The Sixers are playing for something more; they have the championship on their mind.
“Then again, it’s another chance to compete,” Embiid finished. “It’s all about winning every single game. Not really too focused on the in-season tournament. I’m more focused about just winning every single game and wherever that takes us based on that cup, I guess then you have a chance to compete for more.”
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