The NBA instituted a new In-Season Tournament this year and we have reached the semi-finals of the first annual affair.
The NBA paired teams in 3 pools per conference and the winners advanced and a fourth wild card also got to join the quarterfinals. The top two seeds got to host the quarterfinals before the semi and finals taking place in Las Vegas.
There were some serious questions about the interest that this would garner nationally and with the players, but this has seemed to add some much-needed intensity and energy to the games that are for the tournament.
The NBA must be a little disappointed in the teams that made it to the Semi-Finals, with three small markets (Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers, and New Orleans Pelicans) and the Los Angeles Lakers joining them with their win against the Suns last night.
The Milwaukee Bucks and the Indiana Pacers get to square off for the right to represent the Eastern Conference in the first finals of the NBA In-Season Tournament. The Bucks have won all 5 of their “tournament” games this season and dismantled the Knicks last night to advance.
Giannis is playing like a top 3 player in the world still, and they added the scoring of Damian Lillard to spread the floor and take some pressure off Giannis to do it all.
The Pacers have been led by the most electric offense in the NBA this season to date. Tyrese Haliburton has been one of the best 10 players in the association this year and showed that with his first career triple-double in their quarterfinal win against the Celtics.
These two teams gave us a great game earlier this season with the Pacers winning 126-124.
The stage is set.#FearTheDeer pic.twitter.com/7nSk3ggehC
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) December 7, 2023
The Los Angeles Lakers take on the New Orleans Pelicans in the West Semi-Finals. The Lakers are coming off a controversial win against the Suns last night, with Lebron James still defying age with a vintage 31 points, 11 assists, and 8 rebounds, including 15 in the fourth quarter.
The Pelicans get to head to Vegas after they comfortably won against the Kings last night. The Lakers and the Pelicans have not met this season, so this will be the first time we get to see it.
An exclusive look at the squad's win over Phoenix to earn their ticket to Vegas 🎟️
Mini-Movie: IST Quarterfinals
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) December 7, 2023
The Inspin simulation model, which simulates every NBA game thousands’ of times, up over 150 units over the last three years. A $100 bettor of our NBA would have netted a profit of $15,000+ and, a $1,000 bettor would have won $150,000+. We offer picks on NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, XFL, PGA Golf and NCAA Basketball and Football. Now is the time to sign-up, get all the picks, and start winning.
| Title: NBA In-Season Tournament Semi-Finals
| Author: Matt Catton
| Date: Dec 7, 2023