The NBA’s in-season tournament is back, this time with a new name and a new look. The league has rebranded the competition as the Emirates NBA Cup, adding a touch of glamour and boosting its commercial appeal. To further enhance the tournament’s profile, actors Michael Imperioli and Rosario Dawson have joined the marketing campaign.
The Golden State Warriors, who had a less-than-stellar performance in last year’s inaugural tournament, are eager to redeem themselves. However, they’ll need to be cautious. The Los Angeles Lakers, who won the first-ever cup, experienced a significant downturn in performance following their victory, raising questions about a potential tournament curse.
The format for the 2024 Emirates NBA Cup remains relatively simple. The league is divided into six groups of five teams, with each team playing every other team in their group. The top team from each group, along with the two best second-place teams, will advance to the knockout stage. The tournament culminates in the semifinals and championship game, both to be held in Las Vegas.
The Warriors’ journey begins on November 12th against the Dallas Mavericks at home. They’ll then face the Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans, and Denver Nuggets, with the games against Dallas and Denver airing on TNT and the Grizzlies game on ESPN.
It’s important to note that the Emirates NBA Cup games count towards the regular season record, adding extra weight to each matchup. To accommodate the tournament, the NBA will add games to the schedule to ensure all teams play a total of 82 games.
As the Warriors prepare for another grueling season, the Emirates NBA Cup presents both an opportunity for glory and a potential obstacle to overcome.
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