The Best Part will be the so called Knock Out Games (not that anyone is knocked out of anything really).
The bright courts are making the players extra aggressive. Like a red cape waving in front of a bull.
Wish they'd called it the Stern Cup. Winning team gets to arbitrarily suspend any opponent of their choosing.
So the Pacers already won their group, but they still have on more Group Play game on Friday against Detroit. Is there anything at stake in that game? Yes, actually. The four teams from each conference that advance to the Knockout Rounds will be seeded based on their records in Group Play, with the top two seeds getting to host Quarterfinal games on their home court. That means the Pacers should be highly motivated to secure a top-two seed in the East so they can host a Quarterfinal game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. If the Pacers beat the Pistons on Friday to finish 4-0 in their group, they should be in good position to host a Quarterfinal game. There are three other unbeaten teams currently in the East — Milwaukee and Miami in East Group B as well as Boston in East Group C — but each of those teams has only played two Group Play games. In the event that all three group winners finish 4-0, the top two seeds would be determined based on which teams have the best point differential in the group stage. All In-Season Tournament games except for the championship game also count toward the regular season standings, so there is also that motivation for both the Pacers and Pistons on Friday.
