The NBA has succeeded in its challenge of integrating a Tournament to try to spice up the start of the regular season a little. Despite not being easily readable by the general public at the start, the format gained interest over the weeks, until this first final won by the Lakers against the Pacers in Las Vegas.
Among the leaders who pushed for this novelty, Joe Dumars welcomed this first edition, whether in view of the level of competition displayed by the players or the interest shown by the public.
“It wasn’t just about the money”, he notably declared to The Athleticin reference to the “Prize Money” of $500,000 promised to each player on the winning team. “It was a way of saying that the teams were fighting for something. And what we saw was a really impressive competition. Even for me, while I tell myself that it’s still NBA basketball for the month of November. But it was impressive to see the guys fight the way they did. I really enjoyed watching that.”
The NBA also expected to receive criticism, and these were numerous, starting with the particular covering of the floors and its numerous stickers making the whole thing more slippery than the norm, in addition to offering a visual questionable. With Adam Silver apparently a “fan” of this adjustment, Joe Dumars also defended the same position, ensuring that it is now a strong marker of the In-Season Tournament.
Las Vegas should continue to host the finals
“I liked the idea that when you turn on the TV and come across one of these fields, you know immediately, even if you have forgotten that it is a Tuesday or Friday (days of the week in which the NBA Cup matches were scheduled), just by seeing the field, you immediately know that it is the NBA Tournament”.
To try to gain as many votes as possible, the league intends to listen to feedback from teams and players, in order to ensure that the next “NBA Cup” is even more successful.
For the moment, many subjects are said to be under study, including the addition of a “sports” prize for the winning franchise, the calendar and even the location of the Final Four. Las Vegas, however, seems the ideal place, and “Sin City” indeed seems to hold the rope for the holding of the semi-finals and the final of the next Tournament.
“I want to say Vegas, but I’m not sure. All this is still subject to discussion. We just had a conversation on Friday about this. I think it will be Vegas, but I'm not sure. I don't want to commit right now. All these things are part of what will be put on the table”concluded the former Pistons player.
