The NBA In-Season Tournament: a haters paradise

Like many sports leagues around the world, rivalries are a vital piece of entertainment needed

to survive.

Whether that be the Boston Celtics versus the Los Angeles Lakers, Man United versus

Manchester City, or the Miami Dolphins versus the New York Jets; rivalries bring fans in.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver may have accidentally added more fire to this type of

marketing approach with his latest ‘soccer style’ frankenstein monster with the new In-Season

Tournament.

The NBA In-Season Tournament, which was introduced to fans in Las Vegas, Nevada, will begin

Nov. 3 and group play throughout the entire month of November. The league will be divided into

six pools of five teams (three pools per conference) and teams in each pool will play each other

on “Tournament Nights”.

Each team will have one game against each opponent in its group on these nights with two at

home and two on the road throughout the month. These games will be played on Tuesday’s and

Friday’s.

The winner of each pool will then advance to single-elimination games with two wildcard teams

for a chance to go to Vegas Dec. 7-9 to compete in the Final Four of the tournament and win the

NBA Cup.

This format is very similar to that of a regular soccer tournament such as the UEFA Champions

League; group games to decide a playoff bracket that leads to a ‘cup’ for a champion. However,

unlike those in soccer leagues across the globe, the group stage games mean more heated

matchups for the Miami Heat.

Miami is placed in Group B with historic rival New York Knicks, current rival Milwaukee Bucks,

and divisional rivals Washington Wizards and Charlotte Hornets.

The Knick, Heat rivalry was recently renewed in the second round of the NBA Playoffs last year

with aggressive low-scoring affairs between the two gritty teams --- mirroring the 1990s ‘Pat

Riley’ matchups that featured Hall of Famers like former New York center Patrick Ewing and

former Miami center Alonzo Mourning.

The Heat took advantage of their games in Miami and went through New York through six last

season.

Milwaukee has seen Miami in the playoffs four times through the past 10 years with the Heat

claiming three of those series. Three of those four series also have come in the past four

seasons.

More than 1,000 miles separate these two, but the Bucks with superstar forward Giannis

Antetokounmpo now have more fire to their matchups against Miami next season after No. 1

Milwaukee suffered a shocking 4-1 first-round series exit against the No. 8 Miami Heat last

season.

For the divisional rivals in the group, the Wizards and Hornets, the Heat will face both rebuilding

teams four times each throughout November. Charlotte is dealing with potential injury scare with

guard LaMelo Ball, who signed a five-year $260 million extension contract, and Washington

traded both All-Star level talents Bradley Beal and Kristaps Porziņģis for future draft picks.

Down the road these matchups may feel like games worth watching if both teams create steam

in the East. Until then, Miami and NBA Twitter will keep its focus on those multiple Knicks,

Bucks games in November.

In retrospect this is, as the title says, a haters paradise. Bragging rights don’t need to wait for

May, or June. Each regular season game will feel like playoffs games toward something special.

Fans of teams will be salty at the Thanksgiving Dinner table by the end of the month.

These group games, especially for the Heat, will be intense and be an early test before the

All-Star break.

Miami begins its 2023-2024 campaign versus Charlotte in the preseason at the Kaseya Center

Oct. 10 at 7:30 p.m.

Written by: Brandon Hernandez

The NBA In-Season Tournament: a haters paradise