This Friday (3) the NBA Cup debuts, a cup-style competition that will be played parallel to the league’s regular season.
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With this, Commissioner Adam Silver’s idea aims to increase club revenues in periods that tend to be weaker in terms of audience, competing with college football and the NFL in the months of November and December.
The league boss also believes that the new feature will help increase the intensity of the matches. Therefore, in addition to the disputes, individual prizes will also be awarded.
In addition to the MVP and ideal team of the competition, the players on the winning team will receive 500 thousand dollars (around R$ 2.5 million) each, while the athletes in second place will receive 200 thousand dollars. Losers in the semifinals receive $100,000, and those eliminated in the quarterfinals take home $50,000.
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However, it is good to remember that despite being inspired by European championships, which have separate calendars for cup and league, in the NBA the format is different.
The predetermined games will be valid for both the NBA Cup and the regular season. Only two dates, referring to the decisive phases of the tournament, are open.
Namely, today (3), the NBA Cup opener is the New York Knicks facing the Milwaukee Bucks. Additionally we will have:
Dallas Mavericks x Denver Nuggets
Cleveland Cavaliers x Indiana Pacers
Washington Wizards x Miami Heat
Brooklyn Nets x Chicago Bulls
Golden State Warriors x Oklahoma City Thunder
Memphis Grizzlies x Portland Trail Blazers