The NBA's in-season tournament, now known as the NBA Cup, is about to kick off, and the Philadelphia 76ers are looking to break their Group Play curse. For years, the team has struggled to advance beyond the initial stage, but with a fresh start comes renewed hope.
Group Play consists of three groups of five teams each in each conference, with every team playing each of its groupmates once during the tournament. The Sixers will be part of Eastern Conference Group B, and their schedule includes a rematch against the Boston Celtics on October 31st, which has already shown promise given the teams' opening night encounter two years ago.
The stakes are high, as only four teams from each conference advance beyond Group Play: the winners of each group and one wild card team. The tiebreaker for wild cards is determined by point differential, making every game crucial in the final stages of the tournament. In other words, even with a lead, teams will not be able to afford to run out the clock.
The Knockout Rounds take the form of an eight-team single-elimination bracket, where all games count towards the regular season until the NBA Cup Championship. The two remaining teams at that point will face off in a winner-take-all contest on December 16th, with the added prize of an independent championship game.
For those on the teams that make it to the Knockout Rounds, financial bonuses are up for grabs, ranging from $51,497 for losing in the quarterfinals to $514,970 for winning the championship. While this may seem like a paltry sum to some top players like Joel Embiid, it can mean the world to those on lower contracts or undrafted rookies like Hunter Sallis.
Finally, when it comes to court conditions, fans can expect bright colors once again. The Sixers' home court has taken a bit of a dimmer tone compared to previous years, but that's all part and parcel of an impending tournament.
Group Play consists of three groups of five teams each in each conference, with every team playing each of its groupmates once during the tournament. The Sixers will be part of Eastern Conference Group B, and their schedule includes a rematch against the Boston Celtics on October 31st, which has already shown promise given the teams' opening night encounter two years ago.
The stakes are high, as only four teams from each conference advance beyond Group Play: the winners of each group and one wild card team. The tiebreaker for wild cards is determined by point differential, making every game crucial in the final stages of the tournament. In other words, even with a lead, teams will not be able to afford to run out the clock.
The Knockout Rounds take the form of an eight-team single-elimination bracket, where all games count towards the regular season until the NBA Cup Championship. The two remaining teams at that point will face off in a winner-take-all contest on December 16th, with the added prize of an independent championship game.
For those on the teams that make it to the Knockout Rounds, financial bonuses are up for grabs, ranging from $51,497 for losing in the quarterfinals to $514,970 for winning the championship. While this may seem like a paltry sum to some top players like Joel Embiid, it can mean the world to those on lower contracts or undrafted rookies like Hunter Sallis.
Finally, when it comes to court conditions, fans can expect bright colors once again. The Sixers' home court has taken a bit of a dimmer tone compared to previous years, but that's all part and parcel of an impending tournament.
I'm actually kinda hyped for the NBA Cup this year, especially with 76ers looking to break their Group Play curse! 
Joel Embiid's presence is gonna be a game-changer, plus I think they've got some solid young talent like Hunter Sallis who's definitely gunning for that championship prize. 
It's always crazy how financial bonuses can make all the difference for players on lower contracts or those just trying to prove themselves, so I'm rooting for Philly to take it all the way! 
"I'm not saying the 76ers will win it all, but I heard they're getting some new ball girls 
") [Image: A meme of a basketball player with the caption "When you finally break your Group Play curse 
"]
! The 76ers are lookin' strong, especially with that rematch against the Celtics comin' up. It's crazy how much money's on the line, even for lower-paid players like Hunter Sallis - it could make all the difference in their season. And I'm lovin' the bright colors, can't wait to see what kind of vibe they bring to the court this year 
can't wait to watch them play!
anyway Philly needs to break that group stage curse ASAP 
it's crazy how they've been struggling to break through Group Play like that. But now with Joel Embiid and Co on board, maybe we'll see a change. The Knockout Rounds are gonna be insane too, I love how every game counts, just like the old days when Michael Jordan used to take over games 
This is gonna be so intense for the 76ers... I'm worried they're gonna get burned out by the end of group play 
and their schedule looks crazy hard. October 31st against Boston is already looking like a must-win, but what if they mess that up? 
And don't even get me started on how crucial every game is going to be... one loss could be disastrous for them 
. I'm gonna be on the edge of my seat watching this thing unfold 
!
the NBA just announced their new tournament format and I'm already stressed out about it... the competition is gonna be SO tight this year with only 4 teams from each conference making it to the knockout rounds... and those financial bonuses? some players might actually lose money if they don't win the championship lol, can you imagine having that kind of pressure on your shoulders? 
. Joel Embiid is looking like a total beast on the court, and I love how they're bringing that energy to Group Play 
. It shows that even with lower contracts, everyone's fighting for that championship 
. The 76ers have got this, they've been grinding hard and it's about time they break that Group Play curse 
. Joel Embiid is gonna be ON FIRE 
. I mean, $514,970 is NO JOKE 
. And let's not forget about the bright colors, I'm talking glow-in-the-dark seats, the whole nine yards 
. It's gonna be a wild ride, NBA fans!
. I'm all about those knockout rounds – every game matters 
. Can't wait to see the court come alive with bright colors again 
️
Still excited to see Joel Embiid and Hunter Sallis bring home some hardware for Philly 