Adam Silver has adopted European soccer tournament rules to his new Silver Cup tourney. And that has put his Association in untenable territory. In soccer, a team advances in a "tie", a two-game home-and-away if it wins both matches (obviously), or, if each team wins one, then on the basis of goals scored difference with the emphasis on away goals scored. So if a club wins at home 2-1 then the other team advances if it wins its home game 2-0 or 3-2. Soccer's formula is of long standing and well understood by players and coaches. It does not lead to running up the score since there is so little scoring in soccer.

In Adam's formula the winner advances on total point difference in all tournament games played. For example, New York and Cleveland finished 3-1 in group play. Both won their fifth games but New York had to run the score up on Chazz 115-91 to advance. As Jaylen Brown of Boston said,

"It's tough because that's just not how the game is supposed to be played. You've got to respect your opponents."