MADRID, 9 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The NBA revealed this Sunday morning the format and competition dates for its new In-Season Tournament (In-Season Tournament, in English), which will begin to be played from the next academic year 2023/24 and which will involve its 30 teams in a phase of groups and then in a knockout phase, culminating in a Final Four to be held in Las Vegas (Nevada).
On its website, the NBA explained that the 30 teams will be divided into six groups, three for each conference (A, B and C in the West and A, B and C in the East). At the rate of five teams in each group, they will have a league format with single matches; in such a way, each team will play two games at home and two as visitors.
As a result of the draw made by the NBA, the Western Conference will have in its Group A with Memphis Grizzlies, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Lakers, Utah Jazz and Portland Trail Blazers; in Group B with the Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers, New Orleans Pelicans, Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets; and in his Group C with Sacramento Kings, Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves, Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs.
Meanwhile, the Eastern Conference will have in its Group A Philadelphia 76ers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Atlanta Hawks, Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons; in his Group B with Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks, Miami Heat, Washington Wizards and Charlotte Hornets; and in his Group C with Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, Toronto Raptors, Chicago Bulls and Orlando Magic.
EIGHT CONTESTANTS IN SEARCH OF THE BRAND NEW TITLE
The six group champions and also the best group runner-up from each conference will enter the knockout phase. Thus leaving eight contenders, from then on the quarterfinals will be held in a single match (in the field of those who achieve a better ranking in the previous group stage).
The winners of the quarterfinal round will advance to the Final Four, which will take place December 7-9 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The team that wins this quadrangular tournament will take the champion’s trophy to its showcases, simply called the NBA Cup.
The calendar of this brand new Intraseason Tournament will start on November 3 and its matches will be played mainly on Tuesdays and Fridays. Of the 67 games that are played in total, 66 will also count for the regular season classification, decisive for the ‘playoffs’ in search of the ring.
Only the grand final for winning the NBA Cup will be left out of that calculation. As the press release stressed, each franchise “will continue to play 82 regular season games” during the 2023/24 academic year. “We are excited to introduce the Intraseason Tournament as an opportunity to further improve and innovate around our structure,” said Joe Dumars, NBA executive vice president.
“By adding this exciting new event to the NBA schedule, we are focused on giving players and teams another competition to win, engaging fans in a different way, and generating more interest in the early part of the regular season.” Dumars specified.