The NBA’s first-ever In-Season Tournament heats up as 8 teams move forward to the knockout quarterfinals. The Milwaukee Bucks took top-seed honors in the Eastern conference with an unblemished 4-0 slate and a higher point differential over the Indiana Pacers, who had a similar 4-0 slate as well. In the West, the more favored teams were waylaid, and the mildly-surprising Los Angeles Lakers took the top-seed with the only unbeaten slate in the group intramurals. Surprising, but certainly refreshing as new teams unfamiliar with the playoffs are now given a chance at centerstage.
Quarterfinal mano-a-mano knockout games will be on Dec 4 and 5, with the match-ups as follows:
Monday, Dec 4
• 2nd seed Indiana Pacers hosts the 3rd seed Boston Celtics
• 2nd seed Sacramento Kings hosts the 3rd seed New Orleans Pelicans
Tuesday, Dec 5
• 1st seed Los Angeles Lakers hosts the 4th seed Phoenix Suns
• 1st seed Milwaukee Bucks hosts the 4th seed New York Knicks
Semifinal and final games will be played in Las Vegas on Dec. 7 and 9, respectively.
This inaugural In-season Tournament has been both intense and insane. Intense in that the point-differential has forced players to go for even more baskets even in blow-out games, completely setting aside the old tradition of slowing down the pace once the win was assured. Some traditional players still dislike it, as they believe it disrespects the game. Others have simply learned to accept it as a part of the newly-introduced system.
Insane in that traditional playoff-bound teams have been unceremoniously bumped off, as a couple of upsets have made big differences in the standings. In the Western Conference alone, the top 4 league leaders: Minnesota Timberwolves (14-4), Denver Nuggets (13-6), OKC Thunder (12-6) and Dallas Mavs (11-6) are all out of the playoffs. The surprise playoff contenders – the LA Lakers (11-9), Sacramento Kings (10-7), New Orleans Pelicans (10-9), and the Phoenix Suns (11-7) – are only ranked 5th to 8th in the regular season standings. Yet, their group game wins have totally skewed the tourney in their favor. Over in the east, the Orlando Magic (ranked 2nd in the standings with a 13-5 win-loss slate), the Philadelphia 76ers (4th, 12-6) and last year’s losing finalist Miami Heat (6th, 11-8) were ambushed by the New York Knicks (5th at 11-7), and the Indiana Pacers (7th at 9-8). Strange, but certainly exciting for the lower seeds.
Based on the match-ups, the 2nd seed Pacers will take a big homecourt advantage against their big regular season tormentor Boston Celtics, who have beaten the Pacers twice early this season. The Celtics seem to have the Pacers’ number, with new acquisitions Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday providing significant positive contributions to the already fearsome Jayson Tatum-Jaylen Brown tandem. Expect the Celtics to move to the semis despite the lower seed.
The top-seed Milwaukee Bucks, barring any misfortune, should breeze through their match-up with the New York Knicks. The Giannis Antetokounmpo – Damian Lillard combo has been lethal inside and out, and opposing coaches will have to device new strategies to diffuse this bomb. The Bucks should win this hands down.
In the West, a healthy Lebron James/Anthony Davis-led Lakers – top seeds in the west for this mini-tourney – will try to stave off a Suns team that remains dangerous despite its third star being still in the injured list. Kevin Durant tries to bring a title to Phoenix, with an ailing Devin Booker and with Bradley Beal still questionable to play. The Suns are dangerous with 1 and a half stars; they will be as sharp as a blade when the 3 stars are in peak form. This should be the marquee game of the quarterfinals, with King Lebron facing his heir apparent, KD. But it looks like the Suns will win this time.
The other match-up presents 2 of the league’s new contenders – the Sacramento Kings and the New Orleans Pelicans- in what signals the coming of age of the next gen stars. The flashy De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis try to use last year’s playoff experience to fend off an equally-youthful Pelican team led by Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram. The Pels will have senior guard CJ McCollum providing veteran experience. A key piece for the Kings is the veteran Harrison Barnes, whose championship experience with the Golden State Warriors will certainly come in handy. The Kings should advance to the Western Conference Finale.
Expect sparks to fly with the quarterfinals this 4th and 5th of December. And keep your eyes and ears open, as the semis and the finals come in fast and furious on the 7th and the 9th in Las Vegas. This is it, folks, the NBA playoffs in a frenetic college-style no-nonsense knockout affair. Action will be hot and heavy, it will be wet and wild. It will be intense, it will be insane. It’s the In-season tournament. Go watch.
Cover photos courtesy of NBC Los Angeles, Brew Hoop, Boston.com, ABS CBN News.
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