Introducing the 2023-24 League Pass Cup
PLUS: Scoot Henderson shows why the Blazers are still pretty exciting.
Good morning. Let’s basketball.
GMIB’s very own League Pass Cup took last season off, but it’s back and redesigned for 2023-24. Here’s a 2023-24 League Pass Cup preview in the form of a late 2000s blog era sassy FAQ.
What is the League Pass Cup?
A tournament I invented in a blog post like a decade ago and have only followed through with once.
Ok …?
The idea is to take the teams that are almost never on national T.V. — ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, ABC — and celebrate them through competition in games available exclusively on NBA League Pass.
Basically, us sickos watch these mostly bad teams a lot. Let’s add some stakes and intrigue.
How does it work?
We have a new format this season. Each team will face the other participants exactly twice (one home, one road), and the team with the best record will reign supreme. In cases where teams in the League Pass Cup face other League Pass Cup teams three or four times, only the first home and away games will count.
Who won previous League Pass Cups?
The New York Knicks won the inaugural 2021-22 League Pass Cup, edging the San Antonio Spurs with a stirring 17-point comeback in an otherwise random game in May 2022. Julius Randle was named the League Pass Cup MVP.
Is there a real trophy?
No.
Is this an official NBA competition?
Absolutely not.
Do any of the teams know they are participating?
Almost assuredly not.
Who are the 2023-24 participants?
The NBA graciously gave exactly eight teams exactly one national T.V. game this season. These are your 2023-24 League Pass Cup competitors:
Houston Rockets
Portland Trail Blazers
Orlando Magic
Indiana Pacers
Charlotte Hornets
Detroit Pistons
Toronto Raptors
Washington Wizards
Inspiring slate of teams!
Such is the nature of League Pass Cup.
What’s the schedule?
Glad you asked.
Home teams in the left column, road teams in the top row. The action begins October 25. The last game is scheduled for April 9.
What happens if any of these teams get promoted to having more national T.V. games?
Nothing. The die is cast.
What happens if any of these specific games get moved to ESPN/TNT/ABC?
That would be an amazing turn of events, to be sure. But nothing otherwise happens.
Are there tiebreakers?
Yes. The first tiebreaker is head-to-head records. The second tiebreaker is overall margin of victory within the League Pass Cup.
Who are the favorites?
With just 14 games per team, anything can happen. The Wizards, for example, could be awful overall but pick up some of their few Ws against teams like the Blazers, Hornets and Pistons. However, I’m going to assume that the Western Conference team here that is aiming for a play-in bid is going to take all games against non-elite East team seriously, so my preseason pick is the Rockets.
However, my preseason League Pass Cup MVP pick is Pascal Siakam.
How can fans track the League Pass Cup results and standings?
Exclusively here at Good Morning It’s Basketball! We’ll mention upcoming LP Cup games in the ‘Schedule’ section and regularly update the standings.
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