The NBA is reportedly getting set to resume the season with 22 teams, a play-in tournament, and October Finals
- The NBA is expected to pass a proposal to resume the 2019-20 NBA season with 22 teams.
- According to reports, 22 teams, including the top 16 playoff teams and six teams in the playoff race, will return to play eight regular-season games, a possible play-in tournament, then the playoffs.
- The season is expected tp tip-off on July 31, with the Finals being played up to October 12.
- The 2020-21 NBA season could start in December.
The NBA appears to be closing in on a format to resume the 2019-20 season, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and The Athletic's Shams Charania.
The league has been in discussions with team owners over the best way to resume the season, which has been suspended for the coronavirus pandemic since March 11.
According to Wojnarowski and Charania, the league is expected to vote to pass a proposal that will include returning 22 teams, most likely to Walt Disney World Resorts in Orlando, Florida. However, the location has not been officially announced.
After much discussion about World Cup-style group stages, play-in tournaments, and more, the league will reportedly bring in 22 teams — the top 16 playoff teams, and the six "bubble" teams within six games or fewer of the eighth and final seed. Those six teams include the ninth-seeded Washington Wizards in the East, and the Portland Trail Blazers, New Orleans Pelicans, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs, and Phoenix Suns, seeds 9-12, in the West.
According to reports, the league will play eight regular-season games, which, according to Wojnarowski, will help satisfy local TV deals.
There may be a play-in tournament for the eighth seed, depending on the standings at the end of the eight regular-season games. Here are the rules, via Charania:
"If the ninth seed is more than four games behind the eighth seed, the eighth seed earns the playoff spot; if the ninth seed is four or fewer games behind, then the eighth and ninth seed will enter a play-in tournament that is double-elimination for the eighth seed and single-elimination for ninth."
There has been speculation about the NBA playing best-of-five playoff series for at least some of the earlier rounds, but it appears the league will stick to its traditional best-of-seven series.
According to Wojnarowski, teams would begin training in July, then arrive in Orlando to tip-off on July 31.
Wojnarowski reported that the Finals would run into October, with October 12 as the latest possible date for a potential Game 7 in the Finals. The league would then hold the draft and free agency several days after, break for an offseason, then potentially return to tip off the 2020-21 season in December.
It is not yet clear how the draft and free agency will be affected by the new season format and the new calendar.
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