LAS VEGAS — It’s as close as it gets.
No, the NBA Cup is not the same as the playoffs.
But it offers the Knicks a valuable opportunity to gain more experience in a playoff-like atmosphere.
For a match played so early in the season, these are the only matches with real elimination-style stakes on the line.
“I think it’s a great opportunity for us to be in that kind of playoff atmosphere and understand what’s at stake,” Karl-Anthony Towns said. “And to go out there and, you know, show ourselves again how disciplined you have to be to win these types of games in the NBA Cup. And also how important execution is. You know, and to achieve the goals that we have for our team, you know, discipline and execution are going to be at the forefront of the main things that we have to build consistency on.”
This group doesn’t exactly have playoff experience.
They reached the Eastern Conference finals last year and almost the entire core remains intact.
But the value of these games goes beyond just executing high-impact moments on the field.
It extends beyond the field, with the influx of media attention.
Unlike normal games, there were large numbers of national media asking questions prior to the game between the Knicks and the Magic at T-Mobile Arena.
There were social media influencers asking stupid questions to post online.
There were a plethora of reporters watching some of their practice on Friday, something that doesn’t normally happen when they practice in Tarrytown.
It’s the kind of media attention that returns in the playoffs.
The Knicks had enough of it last year, but they see the value in experiencing it again midway through the season, rather than going the entire regular season without playing.
“Yeah, definitely,” Jalen Brunson said. “I think just the atmosphere and what it can do for us could be of great importance to us. I’m definitely excited about this opportunity.”
Coach Mike Brown has been to six NBA Finals as a head coach or assistant and knows how many outside distractions are present and how much media attention arises in those environments.
And his Knicks side has set Finals-or-bust expectations for this season.
So he wants his players to use this Vegas experience as a lesson for where they hope to end up later in the season.
However, he did not always cherish that feeling.
Originally an NBA Cup skeptic, he admitted he was wrong about the value these games bring.
“You have to give the NBA credit,” Brown said. “Everyone naturally fights against change or wants to say something against change. I was one of those guys when they came up with the Cup idea, I was like, ‘Oh man, for what? In the middle of the season? We’re trying to do this and that and practice and blah, blah, blah.’ And as time goes by, you must give – starting with Adam [Silver, commissioner]you have to give him a lot of credit for being innovative when it comes to things happening in the NBA, and this is one of them.
“This is really a beautiful thing. I said this before I got here, I thought it was neat, and it’s a great experience for everyone. You really applaud how the NBA has tried to continue to find ways to make this more meaningful across the board. So it’s a pleasure to be here.”
Winning elimination and high leverage games is a habit.
It never hurts to have more of these under your belt.
“It’s just another opportunity to win something,” Brunson said. “So I have to go out there and compete.”
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