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What’s good, family? It’s Sykes, once again, here with another edition of Layup Lines. A quick word on the potential of a midseason tournament for the NBA.
There seems to be a legitimate possibility that the NBA finally adds a much-discussed midseason tournament to its regular season, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
The NBA and NBA Player’s Association are still in discussions for the meat and potatoes of it, but the framework seems to have been decided. Here are the details:
- The tournament games will play through November with all 30 teams participating.
- 8 Teams will make a single-elimination final in December while the other 22 teams continue their regular schedule.
- All games included will be part of the regular 82-game schedule with one extra game for the two finalist teams at the end.
If all goes well, this would reportedly start as soon as the 2023-24 NBA season. Essentially, we’re one season away from a midseason tournament.
Now, I know what you’re probably thinking. This is a little too weird, right? What’s the point? Nobody asked for a midseason tournament — just for the regular season to be shorter.
I totally get all that. But hear me out — this isn’t a bad idea!
The thing about regular season games is that they haven’t felt like they’ve actually mattered as much for years. The season is too long and there are too many games that feel like they come with no stakes.
This tournament adds stakes. It gives us drama. The players will have some incentive to play in this thing and there are a ton of possibilities as far as what that incentive could be.
Maybe it’s a locked in playoff spot or maybe it’s an extra $10 million in cash for the winning team to distribute. There will be some opportnuity of value attached to this and that’ll make it interesting.
If you’re skeptical, look no further than the WNBA. Last season the league institutded the Commissioner’s Cup as their midseason tournament and the results have been fantastic. The games are competitive, fun and the winning team gets a bonus check in the end which is great for their pockets.
Players were skeptical in the beginning at first in the W as well. It was confusing, as DeWanna Bonner pointed out to SportsNet Canada last year.
“At the beginning of the season, nobody really knew exactly what was on the line,” Connecticut Sun forward DeWanna Bonner said on Monday after her team’s practice. “Leading up to it, many players didn’t know what it was and what games counted.”
That’s changed though. The perception is different just two seasons in. It’s fun! Players enjoy it. The Las Vegas Aces won the cup this year and had a blast with it.
This is the sort of fun and excitement the NBA’s regular season needs. And fans should be here for it. It’s good to see the NBA learning a thing or two from the W here. Let’s hope it continues to push the league forward.
The Tip-Off
Some NBA goodness from around the USA TODAY Sports network.
Our Bryan Kalbrosky got a chance to catch up with Shaq and they talked about a bunch. Among the subjects was his brilliant documentary on Lucy Harris, Shaq never having a resume and NBA 2K.
But what was most interesting to me was the advice he gave to his son, Shareef O’Neal, as he begins his NBA journey. It just seemed to sweet.
“Man, it was good. I set high standards like what my father set for me. He’s working hard. Of course, being an O’Neal kid, everyone thinks his journey is going to be like mine. But I tell my kids all the time: “I’m an Amazonian that walks through the jungle. I’m crazy. Your path will never be like my path. You’ll have to choose your own path. However you’ll make it, you’ll make it.” He decided to go early. He had a good summer league and he will be in the G League. He still has a chance to fulfill his dream.”
That’s some good dad-ing, man. You love to see it. Check out the rest of the interview here.
One to Watch
(All odds via Tipico.)
Aces (-5.5, -250) vs. Sun (-+5.5, +200) O/U 169.5, Sept 10 @ 12 Noon ET
The stakes are incredible in these WNBA Finals. Both these teams are seeking redemption after failures on the biggest stage from 2019 and 2020. A’ja Wilson is trying stack that trophy case even more but the Sun really seemed to catch their stride defensively against the Sky. This is going to be tough, but I’m taking a fired up Aces team -5.5 in Game 1.
Get ready for an exciting series, folks.
Shootaround
— The most improved ratings on NBA 2K23 this year
—The extremely weird reason Breanna Stewart might not play in the WNBA next season
—A complete rookie rating guide for NBA 2K23
— JR Smith thinks he and a bunch of other players have been blackballed from the NBA
That’s a wrap folks! Enjoy the weekend.
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