NBA In-Season Tournament format and polarizing courts explained
The NBA world had mixed opinions on the debut of polarizing courts
For the first time, the NBA will hold an In-Season Tournament. A total of 67 games will be played in the Group Play and Knockout Rounds of the tournament, with only the championship not counting towards the regular season standings.
If you're wondering about the games for the In-Season Tournament, the NBA has provided a simple way to distinguish them. To fully embrace the In-Season Tournament atmosphere, the home teams will sport New City Edition uniforms and showcase their skills on a flamboyant and extravagant court.
The NBA's new In-Season Tournament has introduced some captivating court designs, evoking mixed reviews. Fans are left to wonder why the different courts. In contrast, a few spectators found it challenging to pay attention to the game because of the complications on the court.
However, one review from former NBA guard and current ESPN analyst J. J. Redick shifted into a negative sector.
Redick shared his thoughts on the attention-grabbing NBA floors during the Knicks-Bucks game broadcast.
“I was very confused. The first court I saw was the Clippers court and there was a trophy at half-court,” he said on the broadcast.
The Clippers, rather infamously, have never won an NBA title, while their Crypto.com Arena roommates, the Lakers, have won 17 championships.
The Bulls' look incorporated different shades of red, giving them a fierce and intense appearance.
According to one user, “The red courts are probably brutal on old LCD TVs,” they wrote.
Without a doubt, the NBA made some daring decisions, and fans were not shy about sharing their thoughts.
Here are a couple of posts that NBA fans made on Twitter/X:
Why were the NBA courts different last night?
Every NBA team had a designated court specifically for the In-Season Tournament games.
The In-Season Tournament is making its inauguration on the NBA calendar, adding a vivid and thrilling element to the season. Each of the tournament's six groups will comprise five teams, making 30 participating teams. Each team will play four Group Play games, one game against each team in their group on the designated “Tournament Nights.” With two games at home and two on the road.
The top team from each group and the best second-place team from each conference will move on to the quarterfinals after the group stage.
In order to make it clear to fans that they are watching In-Season Tournament games, the new courts will be utilized during Group Play as well as the quarterfinals. The T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas has been chosen as the venue for both the semifinals and championship games.
According to the NBA, “This is the first time all 30 teams have had an alternate court. For the Celtics, Bulls, Lakers, Pelicans, and Trail Blazers, it’ll be their first time playing on an alternate court in franchise history.”
Each court shares a few design details:
Fully painted court with no woodgrain details
NBA Cup silhouettes at both center court and in the lanes
A 16-foot lane from end to end in a “contrasting wash of color.”
NBA In-Season Tournament schedule
Group Play start date: Nov. 3
Group Play end date: Nov. 28
Quarterfinals: Dec. 4-5
Semifinals: Dec. 7
Championship: Dec. 9
Tuesdays and Fridays in November have been designated for the Group Play games of the In-Season Tournament. Mark your calendars for early December when the action-packed Knockout Rounds, comprising the quarterfinals, semifinals, and the ultimate championship, will captivate audiences.
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Thank you for reading, and stay tuned for more.
Wow I wish I can be there but I wish you guys the best