The whole idea of the NBA Cup was to generate fervor. Manufacture magnitude. The NBA is desperately trying to curb falling ratings and adjust to the seismic shift in viewership. So, “not-terrible” isn’t satiating.

The success or failure of the NBA Cup, as a whole, is a matter of debate. It's only two years old. Now isn't the time for sweeping conclusions about things like TV ratings or overall fan support. The NBA is still tinkering with the format.

The NBA Cup championship game is Tuesday night in Las Vegas, with the Milwaukee Bucks taking on the Oklahoma City Thunder. It's a game that only counts for tournament purposes. There's about $300,000 in additional bonus money for players on the winning team,