The NBA is planning a return to finish the 2019-20 season, and the league is reportedly is set to approve a 22-team format to conclude the campaign. The proposal includes every playoff round keeping its normal Best-of-7 format. Under the proposal noted above, eight more regular season games will be played by each of the 22 teams, so it’s still possible that teams outside of a playoff spot could jump into the mix.
The NBA’s board of governors is reportedly set to approve a plan for 22 teams to restart the season in Orlando, Fla., including an eight-game regular-season schedule before the playoffs. The top eight teams in each conference will be invited to the Walt Disney World resort in Orlando as well as the New Orleans Pelicans, Portland Trail Blazers, Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs and the Washington Wizards.
The league would tip off again July 31 and a Game 7 of a potential NBA Finals series would be Oct. 12. The NBA Draft and free agency would begin soon after. The board of governors needs a three-fourths passage on the plan but it is reportedly expected to pass overwhelmingly. Health and safety protocols were not detailed extensivel, but reportedly players will need to shower in their hotels, bench players would sit in spread-out rows and there will be no guests in attendance until at least the playoffs.
The vote on the plan is expected Thursday.
