What’s subsequent within the NBA in-season event?
The Emirates NBA Cup wrapped its group stage Friday to arrange 4 matchups, every with a visit to Las Vegas at stake: Toronto Raptors vs. New York Knicks and Orlando Magic vs. Miami Warmth within the Japanese Convention bracket; Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder vs. Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers vs. San Antonio Spurs within the West.
However earlier than the event suggestions off the knockout rounds Dec. 9, our panel of NBA insiders is breaking down one other yr of thrilling group stage play and previewing the quarters. Which famous person stood out from the remainder throughout the primary 4 video games? Which shock workforce will prolong its Cup run?
And, most significantly, do any of those groups have an opportunity in opposition to OKC?
Your NBA Cup group stage MVP is _____.
Vincent Goodwill: Luka Doncic, strictly primarily based on the 2 masterpieces he drew up over the previous week. There was his in-town agitation of the LA Clippers, the 43-13-9 displaying that had Kris Dunn so upset that it almost sparked a number of altercations. Then, Doncic reminded the Dallas Mavericks what they traded away with a 35-11-5 efficiency that overshadowed Anthony Davis’ return to Los Angeles. It is not Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s fault he barely breaks a sweat these days, however for functions of this train, the Lakers have wanted Doncic each evening in each approach through the Cup. And he has delivered.
Tim MacMahon: Doncic. This choice comes right down to a few candidates who’ve earned plenty of honors of their careers: Doncic and Gilgeous-Alexander. They each put up foolish stats — albeit numbers that are not uncommon by their requirements — for squads that rolled via group play undefeated. Doncic averaged 36.5 factors, 8.3 rebounds and 10.5 assists whereas capturing 49.4% from the ground and 45.5% on 3s. Gilgeous-Alexander averaged extra factors (34.5) than minutes (33.0) on .589/.563/.860 capturing splits, plus he contributed 6.3 assists and 1.8 steals per recreation. As tempting as it’s to maintain SGA’s MVP streak going after he gained the common season, convention finals and NBA Finals awards final season, we’ll give the slight nod to Doncic right here.
Dave McMenamin: Devin Booker. It is tough to argue in opposition to Gilgeous-Alexander or Doncic getting high consideration, however let’s give reward to a shock candidate from a shock Suns workforce. Booker had 7 factors, 4 rebounds and three assists within the fourth quarter in opposition to OKC on Friday to assist reduce what as soon as was a 15-point deficit to 1 with beneath three minutes to go. The Thunder eked out a four-point win — their narrowest victory since opening evening — and it was the Suns’ solely lack of the group stage. Alongside the best way to going 3-1, Booker averaged 23 factors, 7.8 assists and 6.0 rebounds and acquired Phoenix out of a gaggle that included a Minnesota Timberwolves workforce that swept the Suns out of the 2024 playoffs. Booker, taking part in for a brand new coach with a brand new roster round him, has the Suns in playoff competition a fourth of the best way via the season — one thing few predicted after the franchise parted methods with Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal within the offseason.
Kevin Pelton: Gilgeous-Alexander. Though Doncic fared barely higher by my wins above alternative participant metric in Cup video games, I might give the nod to SGA. In any case, Gilgeous-Alexander had the higher per-possession ranking and was behind Doncic solely as a result of he performed 26 fewer minutes. That may be attributed virtually completely to the time SGA has spent on the bench in fourth quarters celebrating blowout Oklahoma Metropolis wins.
Ohm Youngmisuk: Gilgeous-Alexander — it must be. The league’s reigning MVP has the defending champs wanting much more unbeatable. Gilgeous-Alexander is cooking and on a mission to be even higher than final season when he additionally took house Finals MVP. He is averaging 34.5 factors, 6.2 assists and 58.9% capturing from the sphere in 4 Cup video games to this point. If Gilgeous-Alexander can lead the Thunder again to the Cup title recreation, it is laborious envisioning the famous person going 8-for-24 from the sphere, together with 2-for-9 from 3, like he did in final yr’s championship-game loss to Milwaukee.
The most important shock of group play was _____.
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Stephen A.: You need to take note of the Warmth proper now
Stephen A. Smith weighs in on whether or not the Warmth or the Magic are a much bigger menace within the NBA’s Japanese Convention.
McMenamin: The Warmth discovering a approach to keep related. After the Jimmy Butler III fiasco final season and Tyler Herro being sidelined for a month to start out this season after left ankle surgical procedure, there wasn’t a lot buzz for the Warmth coming into their new marketing campaign. Nonetheless, their offseason commerce for Norman Powell gave coach Erik Spoelstra a go-to scorer whereas Herro was out. Add wing contributions from Andrew Wiggins and Jaime Jaquez Jr. and the inside presence of Bam Adebayo and Kel’el Ware, and Miami is as soon as once more a workforce no one needs to see on the schedule. The Warmth went 3-1 within the group stage, profitable an in depth recreation in opposition to Milwaukee and blowing out the Bulls within the course of.
Pelton: The Spurs profitable West C with out Victor Wembanyama for the ultimate week of group play. The group of dying proved as marketed, that includes two of the NBA’s high three groups by level differential (the Denver Nuggets and Houston Rockets) with no workforce worse than 8-11. After defeating Houston with Wemby, San Antonio shook off his calf harm absence to take a pair of must-win street video games in Portland and Denver.
MacMahon: The Raptors’ run via Group A. Toronto has been the league’s most nice shock this season, interval, establishing itself as an early contender within the East after consecutive seasons of 50-plus losses. The Raptors cruised via group play unbeaten, together with street wins by double-digit margins over the Cleveland Cavaliers and Atlanta Hawks, groups that have been anticipated to be at or close to the highest of the convention standings.
Youngmisuk: The Raptors taking Group A — and never the Cavaliers, a workforce many anticipate to be one of many high three within the East. Toronto routed Atlanta on opening evening after which dropped the following 4 video games however has since gained 13 of 16, together with all 4 within the Cup. If Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram can take the Raptors to the Cup title, The North completely ought to increase a banner subsequent to their 2019 NBA championship.
Goodwill: The Magic taking full benefit of what was in entrance of them. Mercilessly pounding the 76ers final Tuesday to create the broad level differential on high of profitable each recreation was spectacular sufficient, however they’ve taken care of enterprise regardless of not having the smoothest begin to the season. And three of their 4 Cup wins got here with out Paolo Banchero. Ought to he return from his groin harm in time for the knockout stage, their run will achieve much more intrigue.
Probably the most intriguing quarterfinal matchup is _____.
Youngmisuk: Warmth-Magic. Give me a Florida rivalry for a ticket to Vegas. After dropping the season opener at Orlando, Miami and its revamped offense has gained 13 of 19 video games. The Warmth have scored no less than 130 factors seven instances this season to common 123.6 per recreation, the second-highest complete within the league. And so they simply acquired again Herro. Trying to rebound from a humiliating 55-point loss to finish final season’s first-round sweep, the Warmth can proceed their turnaround with a deep Cup run. On the opposite aspect, the Magic have been taking part in quick, rank eighth in offensive ranking and are beginning to regain their stingy defensive identification.
Pelton: Warmth-Magic. Miami’s assault relies on profitable one-on-one, one thing that is not simple to do in opposition to Orlando’s beginning 5. Though the Magic have not been as robust defensively as final season, they’ve the second-best defensive ranking in NBA Cup play. I might anticipate a lower-scoring recreation than Miami’s top-ranked tempo would usually suggest.
Goodwill: Suns-Thunder. No person would name Phoenix probably the most thrilling workforce, however it will not be a simple out if Friday evening’s thriller in Oklahoma Metropolis was any indication. (SGA really needed to play within the fourth quarter and sweat a bit to squeak out a win!) The gamers the Suns can throw on the MVP makes this a enjoyable rematch, and we’ll get to see Booker as soon as once more attempt to determine the hellacious OKC protection that hounded him right into a 5-for-13 efficiency. It is good to imagine he’ll be extra aggressive this time.
MacMahon: Spurs-Lakers. Will Wembanyama be again from his calf pressure in time for the Spurs’ journey to Los Angeles? If that’s the case, it is tough to high the star energy of Wemby vs. Doncic. They clearly will not match up with one another, however it’s probably the most dominant defensive power within the league in opposition to arguably its greatest offensive participant. Doncic had 35 factors and 13 rebounds in a 118-116 win over the Spurs on Nov. 5, however his 9-of-27 efficiency from the ground wasn’t fairly.
McMenamin: Knicks-Raptors. What an amazing immediate to revisit the 2023 commerce between the 2 franchises that despatched RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and a 2024 second-round choose to Toronto and OG Anunoby, Treasured Achiuwa and Malachi Flynn to New York. Solely Anunoby stays with the Knicks, and the rugged 3-and-D ahead is a key a part of a workforce with NBA Finals aspirations. Barrett and Quickley are each beginning for Toronto, and that second-round choose was used on Jonathan Mogbo, a 6-9 energy ahead who confirmed a flash of promise as a rookie final season. Although it seems the swap has labored for each side, the Raptors are at the moment forward of the Knicks within the East standings and can host the quarterfinals matchup at Scotiabank Enviornment — so issues are wanting up for The North.
Do not be shocked if _____ within the knockout rounds.
MacMahon: Oklahoma Metropolis cruises to the Cup title with out its MVP taking part in a second within the fourth quarter of an elimination recreation. Gilgeous-Alexander did have to return up clutch in shut wins over the Timberwolves and Suns within the Thunder’s previous two Cup video games, however these have been the exceptions. He has sat out 11 of 21 fourth quarters throughout Oklahoma Metropolis’s 20-1 begin, which is the NBA’s most enviable model of load administration.
Goodwill: The Warmth shock everybody. No lead is protected anymore — 3-point capturing and breakneck offenses have made positive of it — and no workforce actually embodies that like this season’s Warmth. They’re now not the offensively inept workforce that wins with level totals within the 90s, and with Herro getting wholesome to help the already-rolling Powell, the Warmth might shock some people. It may not be as sustainable in a seven-game sequence, however for a recreation, Spoelstra can prepare dinner up nearly any recreation plan in opposition to any opponent.
McMenamin: Wembanyama shines on this new stage if he is cleared to return. Sure, the considered San Antonio beating the Lakers in L.A. to earn a visit to Las Vegas after which presumably needing to knock out the defending champs to get to the Cup ultimate is a tall job. However then once more, the Spurs might have their 7-foot-4 difference-maker again within the lineup. Wembanyama’s stellar season has been placed on maintain since Nov. 14 due to a left calf pressure, but when he’s again on the court docket in time for the quarterfinals, he may cause sufficient issues on each ends of the ground to assist the Spurs make a run.
Youngmisuk: The Raptors proceed their stunning begin. By no means underestimate the added motivation of profitable the Cup and the way that may encourage a workforce, particularly one which few anticipated to be right here. I am wanting on the Raptors as the final word spoiler for the Cup get together. Barrett is out no less than for the quarterfinal, however that provides one among their unheralded function gamers an opportunity to point out how hungry they’re for that bonus prize cash.
Pelton: The Magic are in no rush to threat Banchero’s well being for the NBA Cup. In the long term, the strongest model of this Orlando workforce will embody Banchero, however his absence has helped Desmond Bane discover his place within the offense and Anthony Black turn into a much bigger contributor. Together with the sport through which Banchero was injured at New York, the Magic have gone 7-2 with out him. One of many two losses got here when two starters sat out the second leg of a back-to-back, and the opposite was to Houston in additional time.
Of the opposite seven groups, _____ has the very best likelihood of knocking off OKC.
MacMahon: The Lakers? They’ve three stars able to carrying them to a win on any given evening. But it surely’s laborious to have any actual confidence within the Lakers — or some other workforce — upsetting the juggernaut Thunder. In any case, the Thunder handed the Lakers a 29-point loss within the groups’ solely assembly to this point this season. No, LeBron James did not play that evening, however neither did OKC’s All-NBA ahead Jalen Williams.
McMenamin: Take a look at MacMahon selecting the Lakers — someone verify the sky for winged swine. I am going to go along with the Knicks. They’ve an offense that may sustain with the high-scoring Thunder as one among solely 5 groups within the league — OKC included — averaging greater than 120 factors this season. And the Knicks have a gaggle that has performed in loads of huge video games over the previous couple of seasons; they need to be capable of kick it up a gear.
Youngmisuk: The Lakers. The way in which Doncic is taking part in, he can single-handedly take over a recreation and has the firepower to match reigning MVP Gilgeous-Alexander shot for shot. Doncic is aware of the best way to beat Oklahoma Metropolis. He and the Mavs are the final workforce to beat the Thunder in a playoff sequence two postseasons in the past. And this time, Doncic might want to beat OKC as soon as. James shall be nearer to having his conditioning again, and Austin Reaves is getting scorching once more after scoring 92 mixed factors in back-to-back video games earlier this season.
Pelton: The Lakers. Come 2026, the Thunder would take pleasure in home-court benefit for a possible semifinals matchup. Below the present format, nevertheless, that recreation could be performed within the Lakers’ house away from house at T-Cell Enviornment in Las Vegas. The Lakers benefited from a crowd benefit en path to profitable the inaugural NBA Cup in 2023, and that may determine to be even stronger this time round.
Goodwill: The Raptors. They really match the profile of a workforce that would give the Oklahoma Metropolis machine some bother in a one-game setting — specifically lengthy and rangy wings to throw at Gilgeous-Alexander and the returning Jalen Williams. Toronto retains groups away from clear 3-point appears (sixth in defensive effectivity) and has two gamers who can create loads of offense within the open flooring in Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram.
Truth or fiction: Each 2026 NBA finalists are taking part in within the Cup quarters.
Pelton: Fiction. It is a truthful debate whether or not the East champion will come from that quartet. In actual fact, projections utilizing ESPN’s Basketball Energy Index have it as virtually precisely 50-50. Nonetheless, it is no positive factor that the West champion will come from these 4 groups even though Oklahoma Metropolis is definitely the almost certainly workforce to achieve the Finals.
MacMahon: Fiction. I do not see the East’s eventual champion on this subject. The Detroit Pistons is likely to be the very best guess to win that convention, particularly if Detroit’s entrance workplace makes use of its flexibility and full complement of future first-round picks to make an aggressive transfer earlier than the commerce deadline so as to add to the proficient younger core.
Goodwill: Fiction. It was tempting to decide on the preseason favorites within the East, the Knicks, to achieve the Finals. They have not disillusioned, however they have not precisely impressed within the first quarter of the season. Plus, any shock contender can go all-in with personnel strikes and make this spring look actually attention-grabbing.
McMenamin: Fiction. Whereas a Finals matchup from this pool of groups could be a worthy one, there are too many good groups in each conferences not included to definitively declare that we cannot see them in June. Notably, Denver within the West and Cleveland within the East.
Youngmisuk: Fiction. Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets and Kevin Durant and the Rockets aren’t within the Cup quarters. The Cavs, Pistons and Wolves — do not forget that Minnesota has been to 2 straight West finals — additionally might make a run. If something, making an attempt to win the Cup can take a toll on a workforce through the grind to achieve the Finals.