In the first NBA midseason tournament, the Lakers had a perfect ending, successfully winning the championship with James as the leader, and James also won the MVP. The league pays tribute to the 39-year-old "old man" for his contributions to the league over the past 20 years. However, the league management is still worried about not being able to find James's ** person, because in terms of influence and ability, James is irreplaceable.
The league had previously found a replacement, Stephen Curry, but Curry was similar in age to James, and the current 35-year-old could not support him for many years after James retired. While Curry brought a new style of play to the game, emphasizing three-point shooting and quick offense and defense, the league still struggled to achieve plans to improve confrontation because players have become Xi to hitting and falling, bump-and-fly games.
However, this year the NBA League joined the Mid-Season Tournament, providing a new opportunity for players and the league. This small league not only adds to the spectacle of the game, but also increases the income of the players and the league. Players who make it to the Top 8 can earn huge prize money, and tickets to the semi-finals and finals** are very high, which allows the league to reap significant profits. As a result, the tournament not only boosts the league's revenue, but also makes it more fun for both players and spectators.
However, the league management still faces a conundrum in finding the next James' ** man. The advent of new rules makes the Mid-Season Tournament even more exciting, with a grouped model. The top team in each group and the top ranked team in the East and West will advance to the round of eight. This rule is very interesting because in the mid-season tournament, there is no longer the usual politeness between teams. No matter how long there is left in the game, they will go all out to score more points. Because the final result may depend on the fraction calculation.
After entering the round of 8, the arrangement of the game is even more thrilling, and the league adopts the knockout format of the NCAA Sweet 32. Every game is a knockout game, and the loser will be eliminated, as has been the case with the Celtics this year. Who would have thought that the Celtics, who are currently ranked first, were counterattacked by the Pacers in the first game and missed out on entering Las Vegas. Under this rule, the slightest slack on any team can be punished.
The goal of the players is not only to increase the number of wins, but also to pay the final prize money. It's going to drive a lot of players crazy. After all, unlike in the NCAA era, NBA players now aim for more than just fighting for school.