The tournament is up for grabs, but there are a few teams to keep an eye on. Here are three teams that could win the NBA Cup.
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The NBA tried something new last season as they introduced an in-season tournament. The tournament is back, and is now known as the Emirates NBA Cup. After a successful tournament last season, fans and media alike are ready to see how the second installment unfolds. The NBA announced the tournament schedule a few days prior to releasing the full schedule. The tournament is up for grabs, but there are a few teams to keep an eye on. Here are three teams that could win the NBA Cup.
1.) Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers had a strong showing in last season’s tournament, and in the end, they came away with the win. They defeated the Indiana Pacers 123-109. The Lakers went undefeated in the Group Stage, as they beat the Phoenix Suns, the Utah Jazz, the Portland Trail Blazers and the Memphis Grizzlies. In the next stage (the knockout or elimination stage), the Lakers defeated the Suns and the New Orleans Pelicans before meeting the Pacers. The Lakers are always a hot topic during the season. The Lakers are viewed as a team that should contend, but they encounter obstacles such as injuries that prevent them from flourishing. The Lakers won a championship in 2020, but since then, they have either missed the playoffs (like they did in 2021-22) or have been eliminated before the finals. Regardless of what the Lakers do during the season, they are the defending champions as far as the NBA Cup. Could they pull off another?
2.) Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers had a nice tournament run, and if it wasn’t for the Lakers, they could have been the first to win it all. The Pacers also went undefeated in their group, as they defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Philadelphia 76ers, the Atlanta Hawks and the Detroit Pistons. They went on to beat the Boston Celtics and the Milwaukee Bucks to get to the championship game. The Pacers were a bit of a surprise in the tournament, and they carried that momentum the rest of the season. They made the playoffs for the first time since the 2019-20 season. They also managed to reach the Eastern Conference finals before losing to the Celtics. The Pacers will have a tougher road in this year’s NBA Cup, but if they go on a run like they did last year, they have to be in the conversation of teams that can win the tournament.
3.) Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics won it all. They had a solid showing in the in-season tournament, but lost to Indiana in the knockout round. Of course, the Celtics got their revenge later on. Winning the tournament does not mean that team will win the championship, or in Boston’s case, winning a championship last season does not necessarily make them the favorite to win the NBA Cup. When it comes to the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup, only one team has won both the Cup and the WNBA Finals so far. The Las Vegas Aces won both in 2022. The Celtics are a strong team that could win the NBA Cup, but they will have to fight for it.
There are a few other teams in the mix. The Dallas Mavericks could take the NBA Cup, or a team like the Philadelphia 76ers could win. The NBA Cup could go to anyone, and it will be interesting to see how it plays out.
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