The NBA Cup has been one of the most successful experiments the NBA has implemented in recent years.

The in-season tournament utilizes existing regular season games to form a tournament bracket, and the better that teams do both in record and in point differential determines who moves on to later rounds, ultimately culminating in semifinal and final games played in Las Vegas for both the NBA Cup title and a cash prize for the winning team.

Cup games have extra energy baked into them. The home team's court transforms into a special, often neon-colored floor, and the teams involved seem to play with an extra gear while the fans in the stands know that there's a lot more at stake than a climb in regular season records. 

For Denver Nuggets head coach David Adelman, the NBA Cup comes secondary to actual season success, but the added layer of competitiveness gives his team a chance to prove themselves in a tournament environment early in the season and can be a preview for how the actual playoffs will go.

Denver's Going for Gold

While Denver hasn't had a chance in the Cup before, this season offers them a real chance to compete for a little something extra. The Nuggets are leading in their group pool, and a win against the San Antonio Spurs on Friday will guarantee their advancement to the knockout round, bringing them one step closer to glory.

"We have a chance, a lot of things have to go our way, but I'd love to get into it, man. It'd be a great way test ourselves early in the season, see where we're at, put ourselves in a tournament," Adelman said (via Nuggets). "Obviously, we want to be on the big tournament at the end of the year, But, I think, yeah, if you're in the mix it's important."

The excitement that the NBA Cup brings to otherwise regular games isn't just exciting to fans, who bring another level of energy when cheering on their team; it changes things up for the players as well. Adelman said that he's noticed an extra intensity from his team when they're playing in Cup games.

The Energy Fans Bring

"I think the energy, it really is a fan thing. The fans like it, so they bring a lot of juice to the game. Our night in Houston felt like a playoff game just with the fan energy and both teams' intensity," Adelman said.

Regular season success will always be the priority for Adelman and the Nuggets, but the prospect of the NBA Cup adds excitement that Adelman can't deny.

"It does count the same thing towards the ultimate goal. But, I do think it's been a cool thing, it's gotten better every year, and I'd love to be a part of it," Adelman said.