Whether you believe the NBA Cup is runneth over in holiday cheer or is a foolhardy attempt to steal an interest-grabber from America\u2019s most boring sport, we can all agree on one thing as the event navigates a third edition.<\/p>\n
The teams do try hard.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s because, unlike the rest of the regular season, the bosses insist upon it.<\/p>\n
So while the grand prize isn\u2019t anything to get excited about, at least the road to Las Vegas has some intriguing visuals.<\/p>\n
In order to get to the conference semifinals \u2013 in Vegas language, the Hard-Way Eight \u2013 you\u2019re either going to have to finish first in your group or be the best of the non-winners, that fourth team earning the lone wild-card spot in each conference.<\/p>\n
The television executives will decide which games we get to see during the round-robin portion of the competition, which means a general lack of creativity. On Cup opening night last week, Prime Video brought us three big-name teams \u2013 the Celtics, 76ers and Lakers \u2013 who won a total of ONE playoff series a year ago.<\/p>\n
But, hey, Jayson Tatum and LeBron James can dress with the best of them.<\/p>\n
Wisely, NBC Lite will focus on the West in its telecasts this Friday, but given the options, you\u2019d have thought it could have done better than the Rockets without Fred VanVleet and the Warriors without Stephen Curry.<\/a><\/p>\n Frankly, it doesn\u2019t matter. I\u2019ll be among the millions focusing on high school football playoffs the next few weeks, waiting for the real Cup action to start in the conference semifinals on Dec. 9.<\/p>\n As I monitor scores on my phone, here\u2019s who I will be rooting for to earn advancement and their Date Of Eight matchup \u2026<\/p>\n No team has been more entertaining in the early going than the Raptors, and no team has been more surprising than the Bulls. So this seems like the ideal time for them to duel \u2026 because the chances of seeing it when things get serious in the playoffs are slim.<\/p>\n How the Raptors can get there:<\/strong> How the Bulls can get there:<\/strong> With holdover injuries already having made the NBA\u2019s lightweight conference even lighter, everyone has their eye on the Celtics as we ponder whether they might actually be better without Tatum in the lineup<\/a>. A national-spotlight game against one of the conference\u2019s so-called sleeper teams could help create a consensus of opinion.<\/p>\n How the Hawks can get there:<\/strong> How the Celtics can get there:<\/strong> <\/p>\n While most NBA headlines in the early going have focused on the Thunder\u2019s chances of going 82-0 and the possibility of Luka Doncic averaging 50 points a game, a couple of real-news stories have begun to unfold and could soon be linked.<\/p>\n Will the Rockets foolishly move forward without a dependable point guard? And what will the Grizzlies do with their unwanted ballhandling wizard? Perhaps an eye-catching show by Ja Morant<\/a> in the Western semifinals \u2013 at Houston, no less \u2013 could bring those two worlds together.<\/p>\n How the Grizzlies can get there:<\/strong> How the Rockets can get there:<\/strong> Let\u2019s be honest: The NBA\u2019s two top attractions right now are Victor Wembanyama and the defending champs, and the clueless NBA schedule-maker has us waiting until Dec. 23 to see them go head-to-head for the first time.<\/p>\nRaptors vs. Bulls<\/h3>\n
The favorite in East Group A (Cleveland) is staggering and has already lost its Cup opener \u2013 to Toronto, no less \u2013 so the door swings wide open for a surprise winner here. A narrow loss to the Hawks on the road Friday could set up the Raptors to be the wild-card winner.<\/p>\n
Like Toronto, the Bulls have already shaken things up in East Group C with a 10-point opening win over the favorite, the Knicks. Even a close loss Friday at Milwaukee likely would be OK, if the Bulls can take care of business against the Heat and Hornets down the line.<\/p>\nHawks vs. Celtics<\/h3>\n<\/section>\n
Nov 5, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Josh Minott (8) returns the ball against the Washington Wizards in the second half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images <\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n
A home win Friday over the Raptors would make the Hawks a serious favorite to claim East Group A. Having already won at Indiana by 20, a top seed in the quarterfinals \u2013 likely to come down to point differential between group winners \u2013 would also be very much in Atlanta\u2019s reach.<\/p>\n
A one-point win at Philadelphia has the Celtics in the driver\u2019s seat before three teams in East Group B have even tipped off. A win Friday at Orlando would be nice, but sweeping the Pistons and Nets at home \u2013 especially if they could run up some big numbers against lowly Brooklyn \u2013 could be enough to earn Boston advancement.<\/p>\nGrizzlies vs. Rockets<\/h3>\n<\/section>\n
Nov 3, 2025; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Memphis Grizzlies head coach Tuomas Iisalo looks on as guard Ja Morant (12) checks into the game during the second quarter against the Detroit Pistons at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images <\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n
It\u2019s unlikely, but a basketball fan can dream. The West Group B is loaded with the Lakers, Clippers and Mavericks, so forget about going unbeaten. And the Grizzlies can forget about their earlier home loss to the Lakers, because sweeping the final three games probably will be enough to stun the group\u2019s heavyweights.<\/p>\n
West Group C also is a monster, as the Rockets will find out when they open Cup play Friday night at San Antonio. They\u2019ll get the Nuggets at home eventually, and winning that one (as well as one of their road games at either San Antonio or Golden State) could set up the Morant showcase.<\/p>\nSpurs vs. Thunder<\/h3>\n<\/section>\n
Oct 30, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Isaiah Joe (11) reacts after a play against the Washington Wizards during the second half at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images <\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n