I almost feel like I should post this here every Friday, almost as a reminder to myself about how all this stuff works.

Here's how it works:

- The event features two phases: Group Play and Knockout Rounds. Teams were divided into five-team groups within each conference based on their 2024-25 regular season records. The Celtics landed in East Group B with the Nets (1-7), Pistons (6-2), Magic (3-5), and 76ers (5-3).

- Each team will play four Group Play games - one against every opponent in its group, split evenly between home and road contests. “Cup Nights” will occur every Friday from October 31 to November 28, with extra games on November 25 and 26. Only Group Play matchups are held on those nights.

- The best team from each group plus one wild card per conference (the best second-place team) advance to single-elimination Knockout Rounds.

- Quarterfinals take place in home markets, while the Semifinals and Championship will be held in Las Vegas.

- Every Cup game counts toward regular-season standings, except the title game.

Got it?

Cool.

Will this make you care about this manufactured thing any more or less? That remains to be seen.