Inaugural In Season Tournament 2023-24

[swarlesbarkley]

Welp, I'm officially anti NBA cup until they either have all teams play the final night or make H2H > point differential.

What BS. Now I hope Boston wins the cup so our guys can use it as fire to make the playoffs and make some noise in the playoffs.

[UCFJayBird]

Thinking about the wildcard, six teams have 1 loss or less. One of those will win their group.

Bucks 2-0; vs was, @mia
Knicks 2-1; vs cha
Heat 2-1; vs mil
Nets 2-1; vs tor
Cavs 2-1; vs atl
Celtics 2-1; vs chi

The path where we rely on the wildcard has the Nets defeating the Raptors and the Celtics losing to the Bulls, or the Nets or Bulls just blowing the heck out of the Bulls or Raptors. The wildcard race will be tough.

I don't feel too good about making wild card to be honest. Particularly because of Group B (Group A, so long as the Cavs don't beat the Hawks by 15+ no one will pass us there, could happen of course though).

Bucks play the Heat
Knicks play the Hornets

If the Bucks beat the Heat they win the group. Knicks would only need to beat the Hornets by 5 to pass us in PD. Obviously if Knicks lose that wouldn't matter. If the Bucks lose to the Heat and Knicks win, we wind up with a 3-way tie there. The Bucks have a huge PD, so they'd still win the division, and again the Knicks only need to beat the Hornets by 5 to pass us. If Knicks lose and Heat beat the Bucks to win group, Bucks probably still beat us on PD unless they lose by 18.

To me, odds seem to favor the wild card coming from Group B.

Let's just root for Brooklyn to blow it against Toronto (unfortunately the game is in Brooklyn).

I knew it. lol. We came in 3rd in the wild card standings. This was what I was afraid of.

I agree with the sentiments that if PD is going to be the tiebreaker, all teams have to play at the same time for the final round as the conference opponents. That might be difficult for the NBA, as it means having 15 games going and making sure all games in each conference start at the same time despite different timezones, but that can be worked out I imagine, as it's only a 1-2 hour difference between teams in each conference.

It was a bit of an unfair advantage for Boston to go into the final round knowing they needed to win by at least 23. Now that's not to say they wouldn't have done the same thing and driven up the score as much as possible, but at least Orlando would've also gone in with some notion and chance to do the same.

I think next season, if they keep the scheduling issue the same, we'll see teams driving up scores in the earlier games and not just the last 1 or 2.

I'm just not sure how i feel about PD being the tiebreaker honestly. But I also don't know if there's anything better. I do wish the tournament was a bit larger. Then again, this is part of what will drive excitement in future years, right? the NBA will be able to market next season that EVERY game in the tournament matters. EVERY bucket counts, because going 3-1 on it's own likely won't be enough to advance. From a marketing standpoint it's a great setup.

[jonbob17]

Well, I gotta say it kind of stinks that 3-1 doesn't put a team through, especially when you beat the 1 seed in your group (really in the NBA), but the rules were there for everybody to see.

Other than that, I was impressed/surprised how seriously teams have taken it the in season tournament. I didn't hear about teams resting guys, seemed like teams were trying to pile on points in the later games in order to increase point differential. Boston had Tatum Brown and Jrue playing 34+ minutes in a 30 point blowout. Though on the opposite side Chicago "big" 3, only played 24 minutes having been long eliminated.

Probably could use some tweaks...or maybe next year teams will know how seriously they take every game...basically need to be undefeated to ensure getting through.

[VFX]

It still pisses me off that Mosely put the third string in against Brooklyn.

Like… shouldn’t you of all people know the implications of such a dumb move? Not really an argument to be made otherwise and won’t hear one.

Anyway… who cares. Boston was going to run up the score with starters in regardless and the Raptors are complete ass. Don’t want to hear about how good they think Barnes is for the rest of the season after that. Have fun trading your roster away for picks you scrubs.

I know that you said you won’t hear an argument to be made otherwise, but!!!

1. It the first night of a back-to-back. Who’s to say if the Magic play hard in the final six minutes of that 4th quarter they don’t burn up their legs and cost themselves a win the next night in Chicago?

2. It was also the first game of the tournament for the Magic and frankly I just don’t think that there was enough of an understanding yet (not just with the Magic but collectively) about how much of a factor point differential would play. Teams weren’t really trying to run up the score late in games as aggressively as they ended up doing that until the third or fourth group game.

1. They’d be fine. Orlando also has a second unit. Putting in our Gleague guys was dumb giving up points in a tournament with point differential implications. Not really an argument to be made about it.

2. How does a professional coach making a paycheck in the league not “understand” it yet, but people on a forum understood pretty clearly as it was happening. It’s his job to know what’s happening.

Anyway, yeah Orlando still lost the game and I don’t really care about our guys making a bonus paycheck or going to Vegas for a weekend. It’s just kind of annoying to get eliminated from a tournament when the team is playing exceptionally well because your head coach didn’t understand what he was doing.

[Knightro]

1. They’d be fine. Orlando also has a second unit. Putting in our Gleague guys was dumb giving up points in a tournament with point differential implications. Not really an argument to be made about it.

2. How does a professional coach making a paycheck in the league not “understand” it yet, but people on a forum understood pretty clearly as it was happening. It’s his job to know what’s happening.

Anyway, yeah Orlando still lost the game and I don’t really care about our guys making a bonus paycheck or going to Vegas for a weekend. It’s just kind of annoying to get eliminated from a tournament when the team is playing exceptionally well because your head coach didn’t understand what he was doing.

I also think you're overstating the "why'd they put the G-Leaguers in!" thing a little bit. The only wonky sub was Jett coming in with 4:22 remaining, but he was on the floor with Cole, Suggs, Paolo and Franz.

Paolo, Suggs and Cole didn't come off the floor until there was 2:05 left and the Magic only lost 3 points in the final 2:05 of action.

Franz didn't come off until there was 50 seconds left.

It wasn't like they played half a quarter with Jett, Admiral, Houstan and Chuma flailing around aimlessly, ya know?

[DiplomaticMagic]

We didnt make the inseason tournament but at least we were gifted a home game vs Detroit.

We match up well with Cleveland too.

The tournament was stupid anyway

[JoshuaPotter]

One of the hottest teams in the league doesn't make the play in. Amazing....

[p0peye]

I'm officially pissed.

[Optimus_Steel]

We didnt make the inseason tournament but at least we were gifted a home game vs Detroit.

We match up well with Cleveland too.

The tournament was stupid anyway

Maybe a make up from the Mexico “home game” lol

[UCFJayBird]

1. They’d be fine. Orlando also has a second unit. Putting in our Gleague guys was dumb giving up points in a tournament with point differential implications. Not really an argument to be made about it.

2. How does a professional coach making a paycheck in the league not “understand” it yet, but people on a forum understood pretty clearly as it was happening. It’s his job to know what’s happening.

Anyway, yeah Orlando still lost the game and I don’t really care about our guys making a bonus paycheck or going to Vegas for a weekend. It’s just kind of annoying to get eliminated from a tournament when the team is playing exceptionally well because your head coach didn’t understand what he was doing.

I also think you're overstating the "why'd they put the G-Leaguers in!" thing a little bit. The only wonky sub was Jett coming in with 4:22 remaining, but he was on the floor with Cole, Suggs, Paolo and Franz.

Paolo, Suggs and Cole didn't come off the floor until there was 2:05 left and the Magic only lost 3 points in the final 2:05 of action.

Franz didn't come off until there was 50 seconds left.

It wasn't like they played half a quarter with Jett, Admiral, Houstan and Chuma flailing around aimlessly, ya know?

I think people may be conflating it with the other game where we had a 40 point lead that wound up being like 13? lol. That's the only thing I can think of.

[eyriq]

I'm officially pissed.

Let's march!

[eyriq]

It still pisses me off that Mosely put the third string in against Brooklyn.

Like… shouldn’t you of all people know the implications of such a dumb move? Not really an argument to be made otherwise and won’t hear one.

Anyway… who cares. Boston was going to run up the score with starters in regardless and the Raptors are complete ass. Don’t want to hear about how good they think Barnes is for the rest of the season after that. Have fun trading your roster away for picks you scrubs.

I know that you said you won’t hear an argument to be made otherwise, but!!!

1. It the first night of a back-to-back. Who’s to say if the Magic play hard in the final six minutes of that 4th quarter they don’t burn up their legs and cost themselves a win the next night in Chicago?

2. It was also the first game of the tournament for the Magic and frankly I just don’t think that there was enough of an understanding yet (not just with the Magic but collectively) about how much of a factor point differential would play. Teams weren’t really trying to run up the score late in games as aggressively as they ended up doing that until the third or fourth group game.

1. They’d be fine. Orlando also has a second unit. Putting in our Gleague guys was dumb giving up points in a tournament with point differential implications. Not really an argument to be made about it.

2. How does a professional coach making a paycheck in the league not “understand” it yet, but people on a forum understood pretty clearly as it was happening. It’s his job to know what’s happening.

Anyway, yeah Orlando still lost the game and I don’t really care about our guys making a bonus paycheck or going to Vegas for a weekend. It’s just kind of annoying to get eliminated from a tournament when the team is playing exceptionally well because your head coach didn’t understand what he was doing.

I'm with you, I feel like he just wasn't prepared to coach up to the IST challenge. He adjusted as it went along but based on comments it felt like a player driven adjustment. I still think he's a great coach but the lack of vision in this case is disappointing. He's a junior coach for a reason. Growing with the team.

[Knightro]

I'm with you, I feel like he just wasn't prepared to coach up to the IST challenge. He adjusted as it went along but based on comments it felt like a player driven adjustment. I still think he's a great coach but the lack of vision in this case is disappointing. He's a junior coach for a reason. Growing with the team.

This just feels needlessly dramatic

You know who played the majority of that 4th Q in Brooklyn? Franz, Paolo and Suggs.

The Nets extended their lead from 2 to start the Q to 16 with 4:22 against the Magic's regular lineup. Mosley had his guys in and they were the ones that got drilled.

Mosley put in Jett down 16 with 4:22 to go, but that was also for Goga (Cole, Suggs, Franz, Paolo were all on the floor still) in an effort to mount a comeback with 3PTers, but even with that the Magic only lost 4 points in that last 4:22 after losing 14 points in the first 8 minutes of the quarter playing their main guys.

This idea that Mosley somehow didn't take that game seriously and is just silliness.

[VFX]

I'm with you, I feel like he just wasn't prepared to coach up to the IST challenge. He adjusted as it went along but based on comments it felt like a player driven adjustment. I still think he's a great coach but the lack of vision in this case is disappointing. He's a junior coach for a reason. Growing with the team.

This just feels needlessly dramatic

You know who played the majority of that 4th Q in Brooklyn? Franz, Paolo and Suggs.

The Nets extended their lead from 2 to start the Q to 16 with 4:22 against the Magic's regular lineup. Mosley had his guys in and they were the ones that got drilled.

Mosley put in Jett down 16 with 4:22 to go, but that was also for Goga (Cole, Suggs, Franz, Paolo were all on the floor still) in an effort to mount a comeback with 3PTers, but even with that the Magic only lost 4 points in that last 4:22 after losing 14 points in the first 8 minutes of the quarter playing their main guys.

This idea that Mosley somehow didn't take that game seriously and is just silliness.

We can end the conversation, but it really isn't an indictment of Mosely as a coach or anything. It just wasn't optimal for the tournament... which doesn't really matter IMO. Playoffs and winning a series will be a bigger accomplishment anyway.

[eyriq]

I'm with you, I feel like he just wasn't prepared to coach up to the IST challenge. He adjusted as it went along but based on comments it felt like a player driven adjustment. I still think he's a great coach but the lack of vision in this case is disappointing. He's a junior coach for a reason. Growing with the team.

This just feels needlessly dramatic

You know who played the majority of that 4th Q in Brooklyn? Franz, Paolo and Suggs.

The Nets extended their lead from 2 to start the Q to 16 with 4:22 against the Magic's regular lineup. Mosley had his guys in and they were the ones that got drilled.

Mosley put in Jett down 16 with 4:22 to go, but that was also for Goga (Cole, Suggs, Franz, Paolo were all on the floor still) in an effort to mount a comeback with 3PTers, but even with that the Magic only lost 4 points in that last 4:22 after losing 14 points in the first 8 minutes of the quarter playing their main guys.

This idea that Mosley somehow didn't take that game seriously and is just silliness.

Learning experience for him, hopefully he's better for it. I'm laying off the fire Mosley thread for now...

[p0peye]

I'm officially pissed.

Let's march!

Put on your high heels!

[Howard Mass]

this team has been different since that loss

I'll take that tradeoff.

I wanted to see The Magic play for The Cup.

[Knightro]

Learning experience for him, hopefully he's better for it. I'm laying off the fire Mosley thread for now...

I'm not trying to be an ****, but what exactly is the learning experience needed for Mosley in this situation?

The Nets went absolutely supernova in the 4th Q (7-10 from 3PT) and the Magic went 2-13 from 3PT. Sometimes it's a simple as "a close game became a blowout because one team caught fire and the other team went cold", ya know?

Mosley didn't play a "give up" lineup for an extended stretch. He was actively trying to keep the Magic in the game by playing his main players. Mosley didn't even pull the plug on starters until there was 2:05 left to go in the game and the Magic only lost 3 additional points in the final 2:05.

Are we really pretending like losing 3 points in the final 2:05 with another game the next night is some sort of blunder that Mosley needs to learn from? Because it's really not.

[eyriq]

Learning experience for him, hopefully he's better for it. I'm laying off the fire Mosley thread for now...

I'm not trying to be an ****, but what exactly is the learning experience needed for Mosley in this situation?

The Nets went absolutely supernova in the 4th Q (7-10 from 3PT) and the Magic went 2-13 from 3PT. Sometimes it's a simple as "a close game became a blowout because one team caught fire and the other team went cold", ya know?

Mosley didn't play a "give up" lineup for an extended stretch. He was actively trying to keep the Magic in the game by playing his main players. Mosley didn't even pull the plug on starters until there was 2:05 left to go in the game and the Magic only lost 3 additional points in the final 2:05.

Are we really pretending like losing 3 points in the final 2:05 with another game the next night is some sort of blunder that Mosley needs to learn from? Because it's really not.

Losing by 20 in our first IST game is a terrible look and is an indication that Mosley failed to coach up to the tournament. He was unprepared and as a result so was the team. His comments at the time downplayed the IST. It is fair to say he wasn't bought in and it cost us. You can track the evolution of his narrative over time and one theme is that the players bought in and brought him along.

[swarlesbarkley]

How many teams played an away B2B as a part of group play? Seems like a pretty huge disadvantage as well.

Out of curiosity, I looked up Boston because I'm salty and they had a home B2B to start the group play.