2024 Emirates NBA Cup Preview
The NBA Cup is BACK for its second year with Tuesday November 12th marking the first day of group play. After a successful first edition of the tournament in 2023, the NBA is back with the newly dubbed “Emirates NBA Cup” culminating in Las Vegas with a single elimination tournament ending in December.
NBA Cup Format
All 30 teams have been randomly divided into groups of five which I will list below. Group play lasts from Tuesday November 12th through Tuesday December 3rd and will consist of four games per team. Each team will play one group play game against the other four teams in their group – with two games coming at home and two games coming on the road.
Eight teams will advance to the elimination round of the NBA Cup. Each team with the best record in their group will advance along with two wildcards equaling 8 total teams. The two wildcard teams will consist of the team from each conference with the best record in group play games that finished second in their group. The higher seeded team will host the first game of the next round – with the semi-finals and final taking place in Las Vegas on a neutral court.
NBA Cup Groups
East Group A
-New York Knicks +115 (my Group winner pick)
-Philadelphia 76ers +200
-Orlando Magic +460
-Charlotte Hornets +800
-Brooklyn Nets +1800
This is the second-weakest group in the East. Philadelphia is missing Tyrese Maxey for “weeks” due to a hamstring strain and Joel Embiid is just now returning from injury/suspension. Orlando is missing Paolo Banchero – one of the most dynamic players in the league and the Hornets/Nets don’t have what it takes top to bottom. New York SHOULD walk to a Group win here.
East Group B
-Milwaukee Bucks +175
-Indiana Pacers +230 (my Group winner pick)
-Miami Heat +250
-Detroit Pistons +850
-Toronto Raptors +1100
This is easily the weakest group in the East. Milwaukee has completely bottomed out under Doc Rivers while the Pacers haven’t lived up to expectations after bursting onto the scene last season. I will say, Indiana took this cup very seriously last season and that’s why I’m buying them despite a 5-5 record to begin the season. Given how weak this group is, I also think a longshot pick of the Pistons holds some merit. Cade Cunningham is ascending and he can absolutely take over a game while their two toughest games in my opinion – Miami and Milwaukee – will come on their home floor in Detroit. I will be betting both Indiana and Detroit to win this group at their odds.
East Group C
-Boston Celtics -175 (my Group winner pick)
-Cleveland Cavaliers +220 (wildcard team pick)
-Chicago Bulls +1000
-Atlanta Hawks +1700
-Washington Wizards +3100
This is the best group overall because it has the two best teams in the conference in Boston and Cleveland. There’s a very real chance that Cleveland heads into Boston next week at 15-0 with the fate of this group on the line in that match-up with the Celtics. Regardless, the teams at the bottom of this group are so weak that I think both Boston and Cleveland easily advance to the next round.
West Group A
-Minnesota Timberwolves +115 (my Group winner pick)
-Sacramento Kings +290
-Los Angeles Clippers +420
-Houston Rockets +460
-Portland Trailblazers +2400
This group is a gauntlet, stacked top to bottom as evidenced by the odds of the top four teams. I have the least amount of confidence in this pick given the strength of the group but I’ll ride with the best overall player in Anthony Edwards when push comes to shove.
West Group B
-Oklahoma City Thunder +140 (wildcard team pick)
-Los Angeles Lakers +200 (my Group winner pick)
-Phoenix Suns +360
-San Antonio Spurs +750
-Utah Jazz +1800
I’m going with the Lakers to win Group B and will be betting them at +200. They won the inaugural NBA tournament last season, and clearly this format motivates veterans like LeBron James and Anthony Davis. OKC takes a massive hit with Chet Holmgren out due to injury while the Suns will also be missing Kevin Durant. I would definitely be on Phoenix here if they were healthy, but give me the Lakers to make it out of their group once again.
West Group C
-Denver Nuggets +155
-Golden State Warriors +230 (my Group winner pick)
-Dallas Mavericks +310
-Memphis Grizzlies +700
-New Orleans Pelicans +1100
Another strong group, I will be taking Golden State and betting them to win the Group at +230. They’ve clearly been the best overall team in the West this season in my opinion and they can exploit the Nuggets lack of depth.
NBA Cup Predictions & Best Bets
Cleveland Cavaliers to win the NBA Cup +1000
Los Angeles Lakers to win the NBA Cup +1600
Golden State Warriors to win the NBA Cup +1600
Overall, this should be a fantastic month of basketball and I am planning to bet three teams at +1000 or greater odds to hoist the Cup in addition to the Group bets.
Cleveland has been the best team in basketball, and these odds will disappear if they manage to beat Boston next week. They will eventually lose a game, but I’m willing to ride the hot hand right now and they’re pretty healthy overall. If they lose to Boston – I may dip back in on them again if we see the odds grow longer.
As I noted above, Los Angeles took this very seriously last season and I’m sure they’ll be motivated to repeat. Anthony Davis is playing at an MVP level when on the floor and if they can get serviceable play from their role players I think they can make a run once again to the semi-finals or finals.
Finally, the Warriors have been the best team in the West and I love how they’ve played vs elite competition this season. Cleveland is the only team that has stifled them, but that speaks more about the Cavs than it does the Warriors in my opinion. Steph Curry is healthy and engaged and I would take them over any team in the West right now.
I love the odds on all of these teams and the good thing about taking longer odds shots is that if they make runs to the semi-finals it’s very easy to hedge and guarantee some profit.
Written by Ben Hossler