The second annual NBA Cup is BACK tonight, and Charlotte Wilder, co-host of Oddball, joined Tuesday’s edition of GoJo and Golic to share her thoughts on this year’s In-Season Tournament and what fans can look forward to in these upcoming matchups.
Count Mike Golic Jr. among those excited for the return of the NBA Cup and its “freaky colorful courts and these games in a format that I’m still only loosely familiar with.” Charlotte thought back to how when she was on GoJo and Golic last year, both she and the guys were utterly confused at the idea of the In-Season Ttournament, now dubbed the Emirates NBA Cup. However, as time passed, she became a believer and became OBSESSED, so much so that when it ended, she started to miss it and even wished there was a second In-Season Tournament!
Mike Golic Sr. said even the players were confused by the concepts, noting that the players would have to see the different court designs to realize it was a tournament game. But, despite the confusion, Senior concedes that it eventually became MUST-SEE TV, even if he still thinks the NBA should put the prize money right on the sidelines during the final game as they do for the World Series of Poker so the players can see exactly what they’re playing for. Speaking of the colorful courts, make sure to check out Zach Thompson’s rankings of all the NBA Cup courts. And for more on the format of the NBA Cup, check out Jeff Pratt’s explainer.
One of the more intriguing matchups this evening will be Joel Embiid’s return as he leads the Sixers against the New York Knicks. GoJo highlighted an interesting stat from ESPN’s Tim Bontemps: Karl-Anthony Towns has allowed opponents to shoot an astonishing 91.4 percent (32 of 35) in the restricted area when he’s the primary defender. While the 76ers still haven’t had time to gel, with Embiid, Paul George and now Tyrese Maxey all dealing with injuries, Charlotte notes that the Knicks have had time to build chemistry and have been looking better after struggling to gel early. What better way for Embiid to kick off his season than a rematch of the INTENSE playoff matchup these two teams fought last season? Ultimately, Charlotte thinks this matchup could go either way, but she ultimately leans toward the Knicks coming out on top. The Knicks are a 3-point favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook as of time of writing, up from being a 2.5-point favorite when this discussion was taped.
To try to understand when the Sixers will finally build that synergy and be the contenders in the East they expect to be, Senior asked at what point Philly will get an opportunity to build chemistry and for their Big Three to be on the court together. Charlotte acknowledged the frustration surrounding injuries and their impact on the 76ers while pointing out the stark contrast between the East and West. The East has only two teams with winning records while the West has 10, with the 11th team even sitting at .500. She hopes things can turn around because it would be disappointing to see another season where the Eastern Conference is perceived as significantly weaker, with people assuming an easier path to the Finals for its top teams. Looking back at preseason conversations, she noted that many foresaw the uncertainty surrounding the Sixers’ decision to bring in Paul George and how that would work out. However, there was a lot of talk about the Bucks being a team to look out for, but after what we’ve seen so far, that has not been the case. GoJo says the Bucks have been an unmitigated disaster, so it becomes a question of whether KAT and the Knicks or the surprising Cavs can keep things going as teams in the East try to find a way to pick off the defending champion Celtics.
Heading out West, Klay Thompson will make his way back to the Bay Area with the Dallas Mavericks to face his former team, the Golden State Warriors. GoJo alluded to a conversation he and Senior had last week about Thompson’s return to Golden State and what type of response the former longtime Warrior would receive. GoJo was adamant that Klay would receive nothing but cheers, given his legacy and contributions to the Warriors but Senior wasn’t so sure. There was even the suggestion that perhaps Senior would bet his hair on it. Alas, it did not come to pass (which is probably for the best when it comes to Senior’s beloved “lettuce).
Golden State plans to honor Klay with a video tribute and a giveaway of “Captain Klay” hats, a nod to his habit of boating to games when he played in the Bay. GoJo believes this will make the ovation one of the most enthusiastic receptions for a returning player in recent memory. Charlotte tried to talk herself into believing that there could be some level of animosity toward one of the franchise’s former Splash Brothers, but come on, they’re giving out captain’s hats and it’s Klay, one of the most likable, chill dudes in the NBA. So she turned herself around and is in GoJo’s camp on this one. However, Senior reminded GoJo, Charlotte and the audience that fan is short for fanatic and that if you’re talking about just a smattering of boos he’s willing to make the bet. There’s always going to be some boos, especially when people have had a bit of liquid courage to egg them on. GoJo, however, remains undeterred, almost willing to guarantee a 100 percent approval rating for Klay in his return to his former stomping grounds.
In an attempt to be an advocate for his beloved Cleveland Cavaliers, Senior asked the crew why they weren’t favored in the NBA Cup despite being 12-0. Wilder and GoJo responded with some humor and a touch of skepticism. Wilder joked it’s simple — they’re from Cleveland and this is classic big-market bias. Nobody believes the Cavs are real until they make the Finals, even if they’re 12-0. GoJo chimed in with a playful jab, saying that if an NBA team goes 12-0 in October and November while NFL fans aren’t paying attention, does it even make a sound?
Watch or listen to the full show below and tune into GoJo and Golic weekday mornings from 8-10 a.m. ET on DraftKings Network! See more about how to watch DraftKings Network here.
SHOW BREAKDOWN
Hour 1: Miami Saves Florida Football, Micah Parsons on Mike McCarthy, Remembering Gerry Faust and CFP Rankings
VIDEO
Watch GoJo and Golic every weekday on Samsung TV Plus, Roku, Xumo Play, Google TV and DraftKingsNetwork.com from 8 to 10 a.m. ET. The show is also available via audio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also follow Mike Golic Sr. on X at @golic and Mike Golic Jr. on X at @mikegolicjr.
I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information
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