Second edition of the 2024 In-Season tournament in Las Vegas: let’s analyze the challenges to play for the final pas
It’s almost time for the siren to kick off the final phase of the In-Season Tournament, changed to Emirates NBA cup. It starts with the semi-finals, which will be played on a neutral field just last year at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, with less success than last year’s edition, which drastically drops the price of tickets. The four teams that at this time they landed in the city are: Milwaukee Bucks vs Atlanta Hawks for the Eastern Conference, e Oklahoma City Thunder vs Houston Rockets per la Western Conference.
🏆NBA CUP 2024🏆
SEMI-FINALS
Milwaukee Bucks (#1) – Atlanta Hawks (#3)
⏰ 22:30 (SKY Sport NBA)
The Bucks of Giannis Antetokounmpo they arrive in Las Vegas after a huge success against a team that seems to have gotten along very well this year: the Orlando Magic. Bucks who take advantage of the absence of Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero, to snatch a place in the semi-finals. Milwaukee’s run was perfect, with 5 wins and 0 losses. The couple Lillard-Giannis is growing and in dry matches guaranteeing greater solidity and efficiency especially in the final moments of the match. Milwaukee is looking for “revenge” of the last edition when, as the favorite, it lost against Indiana, giving rise to the uproar that led to coach Griffin’s dismissal. This year there is Rivers at the helm and an additional Khris Middleton to balance the team but be careful that the opponent is having a great moment and is hungry.
Nobody expected that the Atlanta Hawks could reach the final stages also given the group they were in, made up of the two contenders: Cleveland and the Celtics. A result that will certainly make fans think again, given the super game played at Madison Square Garden against the Knicks, but we all know that Trae Young he transforms when he plays in the Big Apple. In fact he demonstrated it with his performance, and as usual the provocation thrown at the fans. The Hawks are a team that is finding a good rhythm right now, Jalen Johnson night after night he is proving to be the favorite for the “Most Improved Player” as well as the team’s glue player. Hawks above all very balanced between the first and second quintet: Bogdanović, Hunter e Okongwu from the bench they are always a factor. Young wants to get some satisfaction and is playing the best basketball of his career, Atlanta was considered by many to be a team destined for a mediocre season and this semi-final will not be a match like the others.
Oklahoma City Thunder (#1) – Houston Rockets (#2)
⏰ 2:30 (SKY Sport NBA)
There is little to say about the Thunder, the favorite to win. Concrete season to date with first place in the Western Conference and also in the tournament groups. The team comes from a personality victory against the Dallas Mavericks in the quarterfinals showing completeness in every department. Shai Gilgeus-Alexander is confirming his status as a star in the franchise and in the League but OKC can count on what is today among the best defenses in the League, especially on the outside with There, Williams and the same Shai skilled in changing and keeping everyone as witnessed in the clear victory against Dallas, not to forget the precious contribution of the “summer coup” Hartenstein who in the painting is not making us regret the injured Holmgren. The Thunder start as favorites for the final success but must: try not to be overwhelmed by enthusiasm and pressure, furthermore it is played in a single match and its opponent has all it takes to win the day.
Houston defeated Golden State in the quarterfinals with a furious comeback and now finds itself facing an important test of maturity. Last year the Rockets lit up too late, missing access to the Play-Ins in the last few weeks, this season the Texan team is demonstrating that last season’s flare-up is not a coincidence and that today, on a single night, it can beat anyone. Jalen Green it’s the mouth of fire, VanVleet he’s that veteran Houston needed, Dillon Brooks the defensive “dog” but above all “baby Jokic” Alperen Sengun is on the launch pad. The Turk himself is proving to be the “pivotal player” of the team, taking the weight of the attack away from Green and helping the team to grow. This season OKC and Houston have faced each other twice, the score being 1-1, Houston is also unpredictable to itself and Saturday night will be a significant test for coach Udoka.
2024-12-14 11:03:00