Published 17:06 IST, June 9th 2020
When will the NBA season start again? NBA's 22-team playoff format approved by officials
When will the NBA season start again? After the season was suspended on March 11 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the league is gearing up for a return in July.
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After NBA Commissioner am Silver suspended 2019-20 season on March 11 due to COVID-19 pandemic, league is gearing up for a return in July. On June 4, NBA Board of Goverrs approved plan suggested for NBA return, with only Portland Trail Blazers voting against proposal. A day later, National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) also confirmed and approved plan. While official schedule is yet to be released, tentative dates and a basic timeline has been provided by league.
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Where and when will NBA season start again?
league is targeting July 31 as restart date for ir season, with teams travelling to Orlando on July 7. Training camps will commence after teams arrive in Orlando. As per reports, teams could play a few preseason games before restarting season. league has decided to play all games at Walt Disney World in Orlando. location is stated to be apt for games, with facilities available to host season in ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. fans will be allowed in attendance at games. Reports also d that NBA and Disney will soon reveal finalised schedule.
Also re | When will NBA season start again? NBA schedule release, NBA 22 team playoffs and NBA teams going to Orlando
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How many teams will return in July?
Eight Eastern Conference playoff teams:
- Milwaukee Bucks (53-12 win-loss record)
- Toronto Raptors (46-18)
- Boston Celtics (43-21)
- Miami Heat (41-24)
- Indiana Pacers (39-26)
- Philelphia 76ers (39-26)
- Brooklyn Nets (30-34)
- Orlando Magic (30-35)
Eight Western Conference playoff teams:
- Los Angeles Lakers (49-14)
- Los Angeles Clippers (44-20)
- Denver Nuggets (43-22)
- Utah Jazz (41-23)
- Oklahoma City Thunder (40-24)
- Houston Rockets (40-24)
- Dallas Mavericks (40-27)
- Memphis Grizzlies (32-33)
Six teams within six games for a playoff spot:
- Portland Trail Blazers (29-37)
- New Orleans Pelicans (28-36)
- Sacramento Kings (28-36)
- San Antonio Spurs (27-36)
- Phoenix Suns (26-39)
- Washington Wizards (24-40)
Format after NBA resumes play in July
As per reports, plan to resume season includes 13 Western Conference teams and nine Eastern Conference teams. Eight regular-season games will be played along with a possible play-in tournament to decide eighth seed before moving on playoffs. top 16 teams from both conferences will be joined by teams who are within six games of occupying eighth place in Eastern and Western Conferences.
re will be a play-in tournament to decide final playoff spot, which will be between . 8 and . 9 teams. ninth seed will be included if y finish regular season within four games of eighth place. If that happens, . 8 seed will play in a double-elimination tournament and . 9 seed will play a single-elimination tournament. Currently, Milwaukee Bucks are leing league, while Los Angeles Lakers are leing Western Conference.
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| TEAM | REMAINING GAMES |
| Boston Celtics |
Bucks, Wizards, Raptors, Nets, Wizards, Blazers, Grizzlies, Heat |
| Brooklyn Nets |
Clippers, Kings, Wizards, Celtics, Magic, Clippers, Magic, Blazers |
| Dallas Mavericks |
Suns, Clippers, Kings, Blazers, Suns, Rockets, Jazz, Bucks |
| Denver Nuggets |
Spurs, Lakers, Clippers, Thunder, Raptors, Heat, Spurs, Thunder |
| Houston Rockets |
Lakers, Blazers, Kings, Bucks, Mavericks, Pacers, 76ers, Raptors |
| Indiana Pacers |
76ers, Heat, Suns, Magic, Rockets, Kings, Clippers, Lakers |
| LA Clippers |
Nets, Pelicans, Mavericks, Nuggets, Suns, Nets, Pacers, Thunder |
| LA Lakers |
Rockets, Nuggets, Jazz, Jazz, Raptors, Pacers, Trail Blazers, Heat or Magic |
| Memphis Grizzlies |
Blazers, Jazz, Spurs, Thunder, Bucks, Pelicans, Pelicans, Celtics |
| Miami Heat |
Bucks, Pacers, Thunder, Nuggets, Suns, Celtics, Raptors, Lakers or Trail Blazers |
| Milwaukee Bucks |
Celtics, Heat, Grizzlies, Wizards, Rockets, Wizards, Mavericks, Raptors |
| New Orleans Pelicans |
Kings, Jazz, Clippers, Spurs, Grizzlies, Kings, Grizzlies, Magic |
| Oklahoma City Thunder |
Jazz, Wizards, Grizzlies, Nuggets, Heat, Nuggets, Suns, Clippers |
| Orlando Magic |
Pacers, Kings, Nets, Nets, Pelicans, 76ers, Raptors, Lakers or Trail Blazers |
| Philelphia 76ers |
Pacers, Wizards, Raptors, Blazers, Suns, Rockets, Magic, Spurs |
| Phoenix Suns |
Mavericks, Pacers, Clippers, Mavericks, 76ers, Wizards, Heat, Thunder |
| Portland Trail Blazers |
Grizzlies, Rockets, Mavericks, 76ers, Celtics, Nets, Lakers, Heat or Magic |
| Sacramento Kings |
Pelicans, Nets, Mavericks, Rockets, Magic, Pelicans, Pacers, Spurs |
| San Antonio Spurs |
Nuggets, Grizzlies, Pelicans, Jazz, Jazz, Nuggets, Kings, 76ers |
| Toronto Raptors |
76ers, Celtics, Nuggets, Lakers, Bucks, Rockets, Heat, Magic |
| Utah Jazz |
Thunder, Pelicans, Grizzlies, Lakers, Lakers, Spurs, Spurs, Mavericks |
| Washington Wizards |
Celtics, Thunder, 76ers, Nets, Bucks, Celtics, Suns, Bucks |
How will league handle safety protocols for NBA return?
Currently, NBPA is discussing various safety protocols. Players, coaches and employees living in Orlando will have to follow safety protocols laid out by NBA. While players will be allowed to golf and eat at restaurants, y will need to follow social distance measures. ESPN reported that everyone will be tested for virus daily within a contained environment. If a player tests positive, league will remove him from environment and quarantine player individually while continuing games. Employees working at Disney will also maintain strict protocols and will t be allowed into players' rooms. Crowding in places will also be monitored constantly.
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League return timeline based on NBA reports
- June 15 – International players will return to markets
- June 21 – All players report to league
- June 22 – COVID-19 testing will start
- June 30 – Training camps to begin
- July 7 – Teams travel to Orlando
- July 31 – First game of resumed season
- August 16-17 – NBA Play-in tournament
- August 18 – Postseason Round 1
- August 25 – NBA Draft lottery
- September 1 – Postseason Round 2
- September 15 – Conference Finals will start
- September 30 – Start of NBA Finals
- October 12 – Game 7 of NBA Finals (If required)
- October 15 – NBA Draft
- October 18 – Free ncy starts
- vember 10 – Training camps for NBA 2020-21 season
- December 1 – NBA 2020-21 season begins
17:06 IST, June 9th 2020