We’re Down to the Final Four in the NBA Cup 2024!!!

Life has been totally unpredictable for the Emirates NBA Cup aspirants these days. The top 2 teams in the Eastern Conference – the regular season defending champs Boston Celtics and the amazing Cleveland Cavaliers – got punked early in the tourney; while in the west, the defending Cup champs, the Los Angeles Lakers also failed to reach the playoff round. More faves got bundled out after round 1 of the knockout playoffs, and we’re down to the final four.

Who we got? In the east, it’s the Milwaukee Bucks trampling over a woefully-outnumbered, yet never outfought Orlando Magic 114-109, while the Atlanta Hawks surprised a relatively better-equipped New York Knicks 108-100. Over in the west, the conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder outclassed a game Dallas Mavericks squad 118-104, while the over-achieving Houston Rockets came from behind to snatch a win over the Golden State Warriors 91-90. It’s the Bucks against the Hawks in the east, while 2 playoff neophytes – the Thunder and the Rockets – duke it out in the west. Indeed, the results have been unpredictable, as I was able to successfully predict only 50% of the winners. I was right with the Bucks and the Rockets, but lost my bets on the Hawks and the Thunder.

The Bucks are favored in their match against the Hawks, but Atlanta’s giant-killing ways have made them the darlings of the Cup crowd. The Hawks had to beat the Boston Celtics and the Cleveland Cavs in the round robin phase, before upending another strong contender in the Knicks. Toting 3 golden upsets in this abbreviated tourney, the Hawks are a dangerous team to contend with. The Bucks’ have a veteran triumvirate in Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard and Kris Middleton, but the Hawk upstarts are unfazed. With Trae Young leading an irreverent bunch who don’t care about game favorites, the Hawks are definitely in it to win it. With upcoming star Jalen Johnson and top draft rookie Zaccharie Risacher, the Hawks’ game has nowhere to go but up. Expect this game to be a dogfight, and if the Bucks go easy in the offense as they sometimes do, they could find themselves clawed badly by the Hawks.

The Hawks have the potential to upset the star-studded Bucks. With their offensive versatility, with their new-found defensive resilience, plus a dynamic backcourt starring Young and Dejaunte Murray now clicking, they have a capability to stretch the floor, which in turn puts a challenge to the Bucks’ interior defense. The Hawks have shown they can rise to the challenge, as evidenced by their 3 big upsets in this short program. If they can capitalize on their strengths and maintain a consistent defense, an upset is certainly within reach. My head says go for the Bucks, but my heart roots for the Hawks.

With Chet Holmgren injured, the Oklahoma Thunder were lucky to come out alive in their match against the Dallas Mavs. Shae Gilgeous Alexander has done a herculean task in lifting his team, with Jalen Williams on his way to a breakout season. They will be pitted against the surprise of the season, the over-achieving Houston Rockets. The Rockets do not have a superstar in its ranks, but they have blended well together under that brilliant champion coach, Ime Udoka. Led by veteran guard, Fred Van Vleet, the Rockets have the fast-maturing Alperen Sengun anchoring a tough-as-nails defense, while Jalen Green leads the scoring parade.

The Rockets have developed a dynamic defense that has worked wonders on a roster that lacks star power. With a young core led by Sengun and Green, coupled with the veteran leadership and coaching from Van Vleet and coach Udoka, this could be the breakout year for the Rockets. This should be another toss-up, but I have to go for the Rockets here, as Udoka can find ways to take advantage of the mismatches.

The Emirates NBA Cup 2024 has been a fast and furious affair that has seen the best squads get waylaid to the sidelines. It has been brutal, with luck playing a key role for the surviving teams. Now down to only four, it’s the Bucks and the Hawks; while in the west, we’re down to the Thunder and the Rockets. My fearless forecast: it will be the Hawks against the Rockets for all the marbles. And I’m betting my mother-in-law on this!

Pics courtesy of YouTube, Skysports, Athlon Sports, Milwaukee Sentinel, Sports Illustrated. For a closer look, just click on the pics.