NBA In-Season Tournament Bracket Set: Matchups and Power Rankings
NBA In-Season Tournament Bracket Set: Matchups and Power Rankings
With group play officially over as of Tuesday night, and the brackets set, it's time we take a dive into the matchups for the Knockout Round an added bonus of Power Rankings.
The NBA In-Season Tournament group stage concluded on Tuesday night, and my initial impression of the event is positive - so far, it has been both enjoyable and engaging.
With 60 games under their belts, played on courts that sometimes gave them headaches, and facing plenty of skepticism, we have managed to whittle down the initial 30 teams to just eight contenders for the inaugural NBA Cup.
Teams engaged in intense battles in the quest for a place in the elimination round. The single-elimination play is slated to begin on Monday, Dec. 4th, with eight teams competing for the coveted title of champions in the inaugural event. The Eastern Conference is well-represented by the Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers, New York Knicks, and Boston Celtics. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, New Orleans Pelicans, and Sacramento Kings emerged as the four teams progressing from the Western Conference group stage to the knockout rounds. The Sacramento Kings sealed their spot in the Knockout Stages with an exhilarating 124-123 victory over the Golden State Warriors.
Quarterfinals/Knockout Round
Understanding the NBA In Season Tournament becomes straightforward from here - it follows a simple single-elimination bracket format.
The victorious teams from the four games scheduled for Monday and Tuesday will journey to Las Vegas for the semifinals on Dec. 7th, and the triumphant teams from those matches will compete in the finals on Dec. 9th.
The teams that do not win those games will battle it out against each other to assist in reaching the goal of 82 games. Similarly, the 22 teams that were unable to advance to the quarterfinals must compete in two more games to complete the 82-game schedule. The additional games are scheduled for December 6th and 8th.
Eastern Conference
No. 1 Milwaukee Bucks vs. No. 4 New York Knicks: Tuesday, Dec. 5th at 7:30 p.m. ET
No. 2 Indiana Pacers vs. No. 3 Boston Celtics: Monday, Dec. 4th at 7:30 p.m. ET
Western Conference
No. 1 Los Angeles Lakers vs. No. 4 Phoenix Suns: Tuesday, Dec. 5th at 10 p.m. ET
No. 2 Sacramento Kings vs. No. 3 New Orleans Pelicans: Monday, Dec. 4th at 10 p.m. ET
All the games will be broadcast on TNT.
The level of play showcased in this tournament has been impressive, with players consistently bringing their A-game. With the prospect of real money and an all-expenses-paid trip to Las Vegas at stake, contingent on their team reaching the final four, players will be awarded $100,000 each. These highly anticipated games, scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, are expected to achieve unparalleled excitement. The upcoming event promises to be quite captivating.
How well is the NBA’s In-Season experiment working?
The outcome couldn’t have been more favorable for the league. It is enjoying the benefits without any consequences.
This tournament aimed to draw more attention to the league’s rising stars in less prominent markets. The objective has been successfully fulfilled. The tournament has generated significant interest among the younger generation. Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers dominate the Eastern Conference with the top seed. The West will witness a match-up between Zion Williamson’s Pelicans and De’Aaron Fox’s Kings.
In the meantime, the NBA has the involvement of its esteemed franchises. For once, the Lakers, Celtics, and Knicks are all excelling simultaneously. The Lakers advanced to the tournament with relative ease. The Celtics and Knicks had to dominate their opponents to achieve success completely.
Ultimately, it all comes down to the ratings and what they show about this thing. Nevertheless, the NBA concurs that something noteworthy is happening in this tournament.
NBA in-season tournament knockout-round power rankings
8. New Orleans Pelicans (9-9)
Offensive rating: 112.2 (18th) | Defensive rating: 111.8 (11th) | Net rating: +0.4 (17th)
Tournament: West Group B winner (3-1 record, +33 point differential)
Zion Williamson increasingly resembles his dynamic, classic form in every game. Over his past five games, he has maintained an average of 27 points per game on a 60% shooting percentage, accompanied by 5.8 assists per night. Those figures are much more similar to his stats before he got injured last season. In addition, CJ McCollum’s return is imminent, possibly by Wednesday or definitely within the next week, giving us reason to be optimistic. With McCollum sidelined, rookie Jordan Hawkins has stepped up as a starter, but his true potential lies in a bench role, strengthening the Pelicans’ second unit. Despite Zion’s improved performance, the Pelicans lost two consecutive games in Utah (and their next challenge against Joel Embiid and the 76ers will be more challenging).
7. Sacramento Kings (10-6)
Offensive rating: 113.9 (12th) | Defensive rating: 113.6 (17th) | Net rating: +0.3 (18th)
Tournament: West Group C winner (4-0 record, +30 point differential)
Over the past week, we’ve observed evidence supporting belief in the Kings and reasons to doubt them. Because of the reasons for skepticism, the two defeats to New Orleans stand out, as the Pelicans outperformed the Kings in the restricted area by a margin of 92-42. The Kings need more rim protection despite their 17th-ranked defense showing improvement compared to the previous season. Then we witnessed the determination and resilience displayed in defeating Minnesota away and staging a comeback against the Warriors on Tuesday, ultimately securing a spot in the quarterfinals of the In-Season Tournament. This team possesses an unwavering spirit. And that decisive game-winning shot from Malik Monk encapsulated the essence of it.
6. New York Knicks (10-7)
Offensive rating: 114.0 (11th) | Defensive rating: 108.7 (5th) | Net rating: +5.3 (6th)
Tournament: East wild card (3-1 record, +42 point differential)
The Knicks have a record of 8-0 this season against teams with a win percentage of .500 or below, demonstrating their dominance over weaker opponents, but have a disappointing 2-7 record against winning teams (stat sourced from John Schuhmann of NBA.com). They are going to have to face a team with a winning record. Tom Thibodeau and the Knicks rely on Jalen Brunson in crucial tournament games, as he showed his ability to perform under pressure with 24 points in a significant victory against the Heat and 35 points in a narrow defeat to the Suns last week.
5. Indiana Pacers (9-7)
Offensive rating: 122.5 (1st) | Defensive rating: 119.3 (29th) | Net rating: +3.2 (10th)
Tournament: East Group A winner (4-0 record, +39 point differential)
The Pacers have advanced to the quarterfinals of the In Season Tournament, providing a positive outcome for fans beyond Indiana. Fans nationwide have been deprived of witnessing the team’s electrifying offense and Tyrese Haliburton’s exceptional performance at an All-NBA level since the beginning of the season. Haliburton’s enhanced pull-up jumper poses a genuine menace now. It’s a promising update for the Pacers, notwithstanding the daunting task of competing against the versatile Celtics in an elimination game. Indiana will face two matchups in Miami before that, and the Heat are always brutal to defeat or compete against.
4. Los Angeles Lakers (10-8)
Offensive rating: 110.5 (25th) | Defensive rating: 112.4 (14th) | Net rating: -1.9 (22nd)
Tournament: West Group A winner (4-0 record, +74 point differential)
During the Lakers’ championship victory in the bubble, the pivotal role played by Anthony Davis involved his ability to sink midrange jumpers consistently. Despite occasional stretches, Los Angeles needs Davis to provide a consistent offensive presence. However, his shooting performance this season has been subpar, with only 25% of his shots taken from beyond 10 feet, a 14.2% success rate on midrange shots, and a 30% success rate on 3-pointers. The Lakers must appeal to Santa Claus, requesting an augmentation in shooting capabilities, with Davis potentially offering some assistance. The Lakers’ lack of physicality in their defeat to the 76ers on Monday was due to the injuries sustained by their bench players - Rui Hachimura, Jared Vanderbilt, Cam Reddish, and Gabe Vincent - highlighting the importance of improved health.
3. Milwaukee Bucks (13-5)
Offensive rating: 118.4 (4th) | Defensive rating: 115.5 (21st) | Net rating: +2.9 (11th)
Tournament: East Group B winner (4-0 record, +46 point differential)
The Bucks have a strong case: they have won 8 of their last nine games, advanced to the quarterfinals of the In-Season Tournament, boast a top-10 offense, and have been improving on defense. Additionally, with Damian Lillard on their team, they have an impressive 8-2 record in clutch games, with a league-best net rating of 39.7 in those minutes. This team is exceptional in terms of their skills and abilities. However, the loss to Boston last Wednesday — where the Celtics dominated until they became complacent in the fourth quarter — highlights the team’s need for improvement to meet Antetokounmpo’s standards. Close victories against the Wizards and Trail Blazers failed to make a lasting impression. The team still has legitimate concerns about their perimeter defense, as Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo are still ironing out their chemistry.
2. Phoenix Suns (11-6)
Offensive rating: 118.0 (6th) | Defensive rating: 113.8 (18th) | Net rating: +4.1 (9th)
Tournament: West wild card (3-1 record, +34 point differential)
With their victory, the Phoenix Suns have earned a place in the NBA In-Season Tournament “knockout round,” specifically the West wildcard quarterfinals. Minnesota’s failure to beat Oklahoma City by a significant margin on Tuesday cost them the point differential tiebreaker.
Phoenix (11-6) concluded their impressive run with seven consecutive wins and a 3-1 record in West Group A. The Suns will play the Los Angeles Lakers (10-8) in a quarterfinal game on Dec. 5th at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Whenever Booker was healthy and on the court during clutch minutes, the Suns boasted a 5-1 record. Booker’s reputation as a clutch player is well-deserved, as the Knicks have experienced firsthand. On Tuesday, Booker and the Suns will face the Lakers again, this time in the quarterfinals of the In-Season Tournament. Win, and they get to head to Las Vegas for the weekend.
1. Boston Celtics (14-4)
Offensive rating: 116.9 (8th) | Defensive rating: 107.1 (3rd) | Net rating: +9.7 (1st)
Tournament: East Group C winner (3-1 record, +27 point differential)
The Boston Celtics showcased their dominance with a 124-97 victory over the Chicago Bulls in the NBA’s new in-season tournament Group C. The victory secured their position atop the group to advance to the quarterfinals and showcased their ability to control the game on multiple fronts.
The Boston Celtics are a dominant force in the NBA with a remarkable 13-4 record. Throughout the first month of the new season, they have displayed the characteristics of serious contenders and will continue to be a dominant force. However, recently, we’ve witnessed the emergence of small cracks, signaling potential trouble. A significant part of those cracks is because of injury-forced absences, highlighting the lack of depth.
Let’s start the games.
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