The Lakers' Standard Court: A Safety Precaution for the NBA Cup
The Los Angeles Lakers will play the San Antonio Spurs on their standard court in the NBA Cup quarterfinals on Wednesday, sources reveal. This decision comes after players expressed concerns about the slippery surface of the specialized Cup court, which was used for the group stage. Lakers star Luka Doncic criticized the court, calling it dangerous, leading to its replacement.
The NBA provided the court to all 30 teams as a promotional tool for the tournament. However, it was returned to the vendor for repairs and was not ready for Wednesday's game. The league made the cautious choice to use the standard court, prioritizing player safety.
This isn't the first time the standard court has been utilized. The Orlando Magic also played on their standard court in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals, winning against the Miami Heat. The Lakers themselves hosted their final Cup game on their standard court, a win over the Dallas Mavericks, after Doncic's concerns were addressed.
Doncic, while not a fan of the court, praised the overall competition. He compared it to the Copa del Rey [de Baloncesto] in Spain, a similar tournament. He welcomes the concept and enjoys the NBA Cup, now in its third year.
The Lakers-Spurs game winner will advance to the Cup semifinals, facing the Oklahoma City Thunder-Phoenix Suns winner in Las Vegas on Saturday.
