NBA In-Season Tournament 2023 Discussion and Gamethread
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Draymond was out of control on other plays, and Draymonding very hard. However, on this play, justice was served. If that had been a goaltend, the goaltending rule would be wrong.
If the tournament games all stay as intense as the games last night, you'll get no argument from me about this.
FWIW, in the context of this tournament, it's been very interesting for me to get involved with EuroLeague as a commentator over the last 12 months or so. The rhythm of European basketball amongst the best teams is that you have one big midweek game (or occasionally two) each week against top opposition, and one other domestic game against what is usually lower-quality opposition. That pattern really makes it easy for teams to get up for the midweek games and play almost all of them at full intensity, with any load management happening at the weekend in domestic competition. You'll never get an exact analog to this in the NBA, but this tournament seems like it could become the closest thing to it.
It's possible the fourth group-play game could turn into something less intense.
If you're 3-0 and know you're going through, and it's a game against lesser competition, you might get a star sitting if it's on the road. I think from the quarter-finals on the games will be really intense. Some of these guys will have throwback feelings to the NCAA tournament, etc. Single elimination is fun.
In general, though, I think the quality of the NBA is so high right now that the level of play is pretty consistent, regardless, because even good teams have to play pretty hard not to get worked. Like when the Cs went out to OKC and got embarrassed, or the crap game they played against the Wizards at the end of last year that Tatum just referenced the other day. A lot of players don't like to get embarrassed.
If you're 3-0 and know you're going through, and it's a game against lesser competition, you might get a star sitting if it's on the road. I think from the quarter-finals on the games will be really intense. Some of these guys will have throwback feelings to the NCAA tournament, etc. Single elimination is fun.
In general, though, I think the quality of the NBA is so high right now that the level of play is pretty consistent, regardless, because even good teams have to play pretty hard not to get worked. Like when the Cs went out to OKC and got embarrassed, or the crap game they played against the Wizards at the end of last year that Tatum just referenced the other day. A lot of players don't like to get embarrassed.
You know what might be cool and go with the City theme? Have each end of the court be a map of the city in team colors, meeting in the middle. Boston in green and white with the Charles Rivers meeting at center court would be sweet.
AI. Whether that means Artiticial Intelligence or Allen Iverson, I'm not sure though.
This whole thing has been a huge success already. Some of y'all need to embrace change and get over the whole "this court doesn't look like other courts therefore it is garbage" takes
who is saying the tournament is "garbage"?
or courts should look like "others"?
The floor is bright. Since they make the vast majority of the revenue from viewing something toned down color-wise may be more pleasing to watch.
Piping in loud sounds during play (ATL) or bright-colored floors just detracts from the product which is basketball.
@Red Right Ankle just made a clever suggestion, maybe you can add something to the conversation instead of telling us to get "over it"
Many a late night in the computer lab at GTown.
Rumors have it that those coding sessions led to missing morning practices
Coding? We talkin about codin??Many a late night in the computer lab at GTown.
Rumors have it that those coding sessions led to missing morning practices
Yup, nearly everything about it is awesome.
Literally my only complaint is functional: the ball and some uniforms can be hard to see against particularly garish backdrops.
That said, the bright red court made the Portland/Memphis game feel particularly intense down the stretch. Definitely added to the atmosphere.
Totally agree. The broadcast last night made fun of the court in Chicago, but I thought it looked like they were playing on a pool of lava at the gates of Hell. That court was fuckin' metal.
No truth to the rumor that Hyland was answering a question about defensive rotations.
JB: Players agreed to IST because of money (increased revenue, not prize package): https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/11/04/sports/players-agreed-in-season-tournament-money-says-jaylen-brown/.
Hadn't seen this reported but coaches (including assistants) will also be paid for winning: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/38807798/sources-coaches-get-paid-advancing-nba-season-tournament.
Hadn't seen this reported but coaches (including assistants) will also be paid for winning: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/38807798/sources-coaches-get-paid-advancing-nba-season-tournament.
I figured the bold courts were to help the causal fan understand when it's a tournament game. But it may help the players play harder too!
Shaughnessy (I know) threw up all over the concept in his scathing “thought” column. Unfortunately, his take will get repeated as nauseum on local sports talk.
Anyone recall for sure whether Celtics played on the parquet or the “local” court when they used to play home games in Hartford in 1980s?
so on brand for CHB...
I don't follow Boston sports media, but does anyone really take his opinions on the Celtics seriously?
Not sure anyone in the Cellar has been negative on the IST
I’m just surprised someone read something by him. I don’t think I have read a word of his in 20 years. I’m surprised he’s still alive.
coincidentally that’s also about how long it’s been since Shank did any real work…
AI's AI: Nothing is practice to us.Many a late night in the computer lab at GTown.
Rumors have it that those coding sessions led to missing morning practices
maybe Grant can snag a Behr or Loew's commercial
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/38811296/wrongly-measured-3-point-line-nuggets-court-repainted-tipoff-vs-mavs
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/38811296/wrongly-measured-3-point-line-nuggets-court-repainted-tipoff-vs-mavs
I cant find a link, but im pretty sure i recall stories of Bill Bradley telling MSG personnel when the basket height was millimeters off.
I think the tournament overall is a great idea based on the fact that it's got my interest and I generally only watch Cs games.
I also understand the thinking that the new courts will be instantly identifiable with the IST games. That said, I would have dialed them down as I find them distracting. Maybe limit the extreme colors to the out-of-bounds areas around the court or maybe an extended ring around the center team logos.
I also understand the thinking that the new courts will be instantly identifiable with the IST games. That said, I would have dialed them down as I find them distracting. Maybe limit the extreme colors to the out-of-bounds areas around the court or maybe an extended ring around the center team logos.
My thing with the alternative courts is that they are all almost the same design, just with different color patterns. They could have had some really cool, unique to each city, court designs and instead they just used the Microsoft Paint bucket tool to fill in parts of the court.
Exactly.
I thought the Sixers did a nice job recently with their court.
https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/76ers-snake-court-history-logo/g6zbkpffzyzwenjjtnq2wvgy
Teams could have had images of their past greats (a Mount Rushmore of Celtic greats) or famous plays (DJ steals the ball - passing to Bird). Heck, they could have thrown an Arbella Ad on there with the money going to the Jimmy Fund.
There are a 100 other things they could have done with the floors that would have been interesting or done social good.
Instead, they opted for shiny/bright colors that 6-year-olds use on their pinewood derby cars.
The NBA did a great job with the IST, but the floor was a complete whiff that was sloppily executed (see Denver)
I have to say that the idea of a potential Nuggets-Celtics tourney final - both teams knowing they're favorites to go to the actual finals -- has me salivating. If the NBA is lucky enough to not just have two clear conference favorites and lucky enough to have those two each get to the tourney final, they'll count their blessings as I think it'll really get a ton of eyeballs and excitement as a pre-championship championship game.
Being single elimination I wouldn't at all be surprised by at least one unexpected team in the Championship Game if not two. The Celtics and Nuggets are the two favorites and they are both 7-1
More court issues with IST
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/38864327/mavericks-season-tournament-court-delayed-issue
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/38864327/mavericks-season-tournament-court-delayed-issue
Tonight's tournament-game lineup, courtesy of Sam Quinn (all times ET):
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76ers at Pistons, 7 p.m., League Pass
Hornets at Wizards, 7 p.m., League Pass
Nets at Celtics, 7:30 p.m., ESPN/fubo
Pelicans at Rockets, 8 p.m., League Pass
Jazz at Grizzlies, 8 p.m., League Pass
Timberwolves at Spurs, 8 p.m., League Pass
Clippers at Mavericks, 8:30 p.m., Bally Sports
Lakers at Suns, 10 p.m., ESPN/fubo
Thunder at Kings, 10 p.m., League Pass
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During timeouts / halftime, that Minnesota - San Antonio game will be a fun one to flip over to.
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76ers at Pistons, 7 p.m., League Pass
Hornets at Wizards, 7 p.m., League Pass
Nets at Celtics, 7:30 p.m., ESPN/fubo
Pelicans at Rockets, 8 p.m., League Pass
Jazz at Grizzlies, 8 p.m., League Pass
Timberwolves at Spurs, 8 p.m., League Pass
Clippers at Mavericks, 8:30 p.m., Bally Sports
Lakers at Suns, 10 p.m., ESPN/fubo
Thunder at Kings, 10 p.m., League Pass
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During timeouts / halftime, that Minnesota - San Antonio game will be a fun one to flip over to.
I thought Chris Vernon had a great idea saying they should use The Elam Ending for the in season tournament games.
Maybe for the championship game I could see but you can't change the rules of regular season games which is what all of these tonight were.
Would be great for the championship. Probably would require a CBA change to do it for regular season games though, right?
The courts are dreadful and will hopefully will be donated to schools for the blind after the tournament is over.
Agreed on the second part. The flooring is doing its job imo in how fans/viewers can differentiate these games from a regular regular season contest. It is a constant reminder throughout the game, and the pregame/postgame highlights, that these games do carry additional meaning. The fact that the floors are creating a buzz, both + and -, seems to accomplish its objective.
They are accomplishing that but they also could have done a better job with the designs. Must be a million gamers and artists out there they could have asked for proposals. Hopefully they make some adjustments next year.
I feel like if we were around in 1969, we'd be hearing about how much the new League Championship Series cheapened the World Series, cheapened the regular season, rewarded mediocrity, and was a "gimmick".
1999: what's this new "UEFA Champions League" nonsense? It's not even a real "league", anyway! What the hell was wrong with the ol' European Cup? I play a bunch of two-legged knockout rounds, if I win them all I get a trophy. Simple. Nobody's going to care more about the "champions league" just because you rebrand it a bit and play a few more matches. And who the hell wants more matches, right? The league calendar is already congested as it is!
Some people just lack any imagination for what might be more fun than what we've got already. I don't immediately love everything about the new courts, or the new tournament, but it's a damn good first crack at it. They're not just sitting around on their hands watching the money roll in, they're trying to improve basketball. By playing basketball.
1999: what's this new "UEFA Champions League" nonsense? It's not even a real "league", anyway! What the hell was wrong with the ol' European Cup? I play a bunch of two-legged knockout rounds, if I win them all I get a trophy. Simple. Nobody's going to care more about the "champions league" just because you rebrand it a bit and play a few more matches. And who the hell wants more matches, right? The league calendar is already congested as it is!
Some people just lack any imagination for what might be more fun than what we've got already. I don't immediately love everything about the new courts, or the new tournament, but it's a damn good first crack at it. They're not just sitting around on their hands watching the money roll in, they're trying to improve basketball. By playing basketball.
