The NBA could have neglected a chance when it filmed its heist-themed, Michael Imperioli-starring TV advertisements selling the inaugural In-Season Tournament. Not simplest would New Orleans heart Jonas Valanciunas have made the very best intimidating henchman/enforcer in a single of the Las Vegas on line casino scenes – he’s bearded and indexed at 6-foot-11, 265 kilos – however he’s additionally been a vocal supporter of the new event.
Born and raised in Lithuania, Valanciunas may be very conversant in the concept that of a skilled basketball league awarding greater than only one trophy every season. It’s a not unusual side of European circuits, the place he performed as a youngster previous to being an NBA lottery pick out for Toronto in 2011.
“Back home, there are different cups during the season,” Valanciunas stated after a fresh Pelicans shootaround. “There’s not just one trophy. It’s nice to see this here, too. More games and more trophies to win. It’s better for the players.”
While 14 of the NBA’s groups started competing within the In-Season Tournament final week, New Orleans will play in its first-ever event recreation Friday, visiting Houston at 7 p.m. in Toyota Center. The Pelicans and Rockets are phase of West Group B, joined by means of Denver (1-0, beat Dallas on Friday), Dallas (0-1) and the LA Clippers. The best crew from Group B will advance to the IST quarterfinals (Dec. 4-5). A second-place finisher can even have a probability to qualify as a West wild card. The event will culminate with the semifinals (Dec. 7) and championship (Dec. 9) in Las Vegas; every participant at the name crew receives an extra $500,000.
“It’s a great opportunity and good for the fans, to have a more competitive urgency to the season,” Pelicans guard Dyson Daniels stated of the IST going down early within the marketing campaign. “We’re going to try to win it. It’s extra money, so why not go for it?”
All IST video games nonetheless depend in each crew’s 82-game file, with the exception of the championship (the ones groups will play 83 video games in 2023-24). As New Orleans wing Herb Jones famous, that makes the video games essential anyway, regardless of different elements.
“Not to sound greedy, but more money doesn’t hurt,” Jones stated, regarding ascending payouts for advancing to the quarterfinals and past. “If we’re playing the games anyway, why not try to win them?”
In many in a foreign country basketball leagues – in addition to numerous football circuits – in-season tournaments and cups are not unusual and phase of traditions that fanatics and groups settle for as commonplace. It most likely will take a while for that to change into the case within the NBA. Short-term despite the fact that, Valanciunas believes there will likely be a delight part that enters avid gamers’ minds straight away, purely from festival in opposition to different groups.
“If you can win something, it’s the feeling you get by winning,” Valanciunas stated. “You can’t buy that feeling. Winning something, it’s not about money. If you can add some money on top, that’s perfect, that’s great. But the emotion you get from winning is the biggest thing.”
Jonas Valanciunas on NBA In-Season Tournament, Warriors matchup | Pelicans Shootaround 10/30/23
Denver 1-0, +11 level differential
Houston 0-0
LA Clippers 0-0
New Orleans 0-0
Dallas 0-1, -11 level differential
(All instances Central)
Nov. 3: at Denver 125, Dallas 114
Nov. 10: NEW ORLEANS at Houston, 7 p.m.
Nov. 10: LA Clippers at Dallas, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 14: Dallas at NEW ORLEANS, 7 p.m.
Nov. 14: LA Clippers at Denver, 9 p.m.
Nov. 17: Denver at NEW ORLEANS, 7 p.m.
Nov. 17: Houston at LA Clippers, 9:30 p.m.
Nov. 24: Denver at Houston, 7 p.m.
Nov. 24: NEW ORLEANS at LA Clippers, 9:30 p.m.
Nov. 28: Houston at Dallas, 7:30 p.m.
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