Get ready to learn Banner 18.5, buddy.

Tonight, the Boston Celtics will host the Atlanta Hawks to open up the Emirates NBA Cup group stage. This will be the second season of the competition, so I’m sure there’s plenty of you out there who have either forgotten or never really understood the rules.

So, here’s what you need to know:

The structure

The NBA Cup is split into two stages: group play and an eight-team knockout stage. Each conference is split into three groups of five teams, which were drawn back in the summer. Group play consists of four games, one against each team in the respective pool. The winner of each group will advance to the knockout rounds, along with one wildcard (the non-group winner with the best record/point differential).

If two teams are tied for the best record in their group, then the tie-breaker goes to the head-to-head winner, and then point differential if there are more than two teams involved (which will likely happen for the wildcard).

Knockout quarterfinal games will be hosted by the two group-winners in each conference with the best record. From that point on, the semifinals and finals will be played in Las Vegas at the TMobile Arena.

All NBA Cup games, except the final, will count towards each team’s 82-game schedule. Once the group results are final, teams that do not advance to the knockout stage will have an additional two games scheduled for them.

The Celtics’ path

Boston is in the Eastern Conference’s Group C along with Atlanta, the Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Washington Wizards.

Here is the group-stage schedule for the reigning NBA champs:

• Tuesday, November 12 vs Atlanta, 7 p.m. ET tip
• Tuesday, November 19 vs Cleveland, 7 p.m. ET tip
• Friday, November 22 at Washington, 7 p.m. ET tip
• Friday, November 29 at Chicago, 8 p.m. ET tip

As of Monday, the Celtics and Cavs hold the top two spots in the Eastern Conference, the Bulls are eighth, and the Hawks and Wizards are 11 and 12, respectively. It’s early, and some of the standings are pretty wonky, but Boston should be able to handle Chicago, Atlanta, and Washinton quite easily.

Cleveland, however, will be much more of a test. the Cavs are in town next Tuesday and that game could very well serve as the group decider. Cleveland has yet to lose this season through twelve games.

Why should you be excited?

Well, you don’t have to be. This competition isn’t for everyone, but it sure does add some stakes to these early-season matchups. Last year, many players spoke on not caring about the whole thing before it got going. Then once it was underway, their competitiveness showed and the product was excellent.

Plus, the point differential factor will make it so teams keep the pressure on, even when a game feels out of reach. Who could forget about the Celtics intentionally fouling Andre Drummond last year, while they were up a billion over the Bulls?

How will you know you’re watching an NBA Cup game?

First and foremost, the NBA would never risk leaving room for confusion on this. Each team will be playing on an obnoxiously colorful court to indicate that they are, in fact, playing an NBA Cup game.

Here’s what the TD Garden floor will look like, along with a sick timelapse of the TD Garden crew getting it ready.

Our NBA Cup court really pops ☘️ pic.twitter.com/VRex9Y1INd

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) November 7, 2024

Last season, there was some concern about the court paint jobs making for a slippery playing surface. I suppose we’ll have to see if that was addressed this time around.

All tournament games will also be played on Tuesday and Friday nights throughout November.