I guess anytime one has to explain a joke, it's an indicator that the joke really wasn't at all that funny or the audience takes things too seriously.


The joke was that the WNBA has never had to worry about crowds so social distancing won't be an issue and that the only way they could get an audience is the removal of all other options.


Again, I understand that if one has to explain the joke, it wasn't that funny.

Appears they are going to resume in late July at Disney in Orlando

all talk and no action

As someone who wants to see the playoffs happen more than seeing the conclusion of the regular season, I think they should just bring back the 16 playoff teams and isolate them until a team is eliminated.

If some outbreak happens after the Cleveland Cavs play the Atlanta Hawks I'll be so upset that I'll get on a message board and complain about it (and do nothing else). Plus, if a Steph Curry or Trae Young get a major injury, the NBA will be looking foolish for bringing back teams that had no reason to return, especially since there won't be crowds.

A potential issue, albeit a minor one, with starting the playoffs using current standings is that teams had played an unequal number of games...this could impact seeding, but not the teams currently in.

Dallas had played 67 games (greatest), and the Lakers had played 63 (fewest), just for reference.

Also, if all teams were all at a neutral site, series could get wrapped up sooner by playing every other day. Start the 1-8 and 4-5 matchups on one day, the 2-7 and 3-6 matchups on the following day and go from there.

Hell, since this season is so royally f'ed up already, go ahead and experiment...make it more of a crapshoot. First round best-of-3, conference semis best-of-5, conference finals and finals best-of-7.

Yes, and it shows how complicated trying to do any solution is. Even a partial return is not only going to have to deal with equalizing the games played, but also what games don't get played (i.e. against bad teams).

This is also more complicated by the fact that the East's top 8 are virtually locked in, and the West is bunched up from 8-13, including a tie at 10, so the 7-10 playoff scenario really isn't fair to #7 Dallas, and the Kings losing the tie-breaker at 10. Plus, if they do any type of playoff scenario, what happens to the teams not in it? Do they just sit around and not play?

The only way bringing back all teams would make sense is if they had crowds at home arenas so that a Warriors fan could see Steph play, but that isn't likely to happen, so why expose more players to COVID and injury risk.

I think possibly some type of pool play to start may be fairest

Here's one solution that still has a lot of problems, but gives all a chance to make the playoffs that still have a realistic shot without bringing back all teams:

Pool play for teams WC teams 8-13 (Grizzlies, Portland, Pelicans, Spurs, Suns, Kings) at one site. 2-3 games played per evening. Start by getting all teams to 68 games played (Spurs now sit at 63, Portland at 66), then play a balanced schedule of 3 games per night. First team to get their win total to 36 gets the 8th seed.


1 pool of EC & WC teams with 39-41 wins right now (Jazz, OKC, Rockets, Mavs, Heat, Pacers, Sixers). Get all teams up to 70 games played. Use new win total for seeding only.


1 pool of remaining teams (Lakers, Clippers, Nuggets, Bucks, Raptors, Celtics, Nets, Magic): Playing games basically just to play, but still get all teams to 70 games played. Teams in West and top 3 in east can't fall below 3 in seeding.

I'd say top 8 in each side and let's get it on. Use the normal tiebreakers and get the show on the road. The chances of the 6-8 seeds in the west winning it all are slim anyhow. Teams Play every other day until done.

Matsui said:

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I'd say top 8 in each side and let's get it on. Use the normal tiebreakers and get the show on the road. The chances of the 6-8 seeds in the west winning it all are slim anyhow. Teams Play every other day until done.

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I agree. It's not ideal, but this is an unusual situation, so it's understandable. It sounds like they are going to do something like taking the top 6 in each conference, then doing a play-in amongst the 7,8,9,10,11, and 12 seeds for the 7th and 8th spots.

Seven Costanza said:

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Matsui said:

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I'd say top 8 in each side and let's get it on. Use the normal tiebreakers and get the show on the road. The chances of the 6-8 seeds in the west winning it all are slim anyhow. Teams Play every other day until done.

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I agree. It's not ideal, but this is an unusual situation, so it's understandable. It sounds like they are going to do something like taking the top 6 in each conference, then doing a play-in amongst the 7,8,9,10,11, and 12 seeds for the 7th and 8th spots.

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I like that idea but the top 6 should be playing against each other just to shake the rust off and get up to the 70 game contractual obligation. Make them exhibitions as to not affect current seeding, play them early in the day, whatever....

Part of the problem right now is the unbalance between the conferences from about 7-12.

Dallas at 7, is clearly separated from 8-12 in West.
In the East, #7 & #8 (Nets/Magic) are clearly separated from #6 (up 8-9 games), and from 9th place by about 6 games. In the East it makes no sense to bring back teams like the Knicks & Wizards.


I think the simplest is to bring back the 16 teams currently qualified for the playoffs and just get going. The Grizzlies trailed Dallas by 7 games, and still had an 3.5 game lead going, so there is some separation there.

I also believe they are trying to get Zion in the playoffs, so I think they are trying to consider how that can be done. Besides the East problem with 7-10 playoffs, is teams at #7, #8, #11 are clearly against that proposal (NOP & SAC tied at 10 WC). I imagine Cuban would raise hell if Dallas v NOP is a play-in game (or series) as they still had a legit shot at top 4 seed (or higher) had the season played out.


That's why I suggest the 3 pool system:
1 pool of 6 teams from West playing for #8 seed (6 teams enter, 1 team remains).
1 pool of the 39-41 win teams from both conferences only playing for seeding in the playoffs (7 teams).
1 pool of remaining teams just playing games to get ready for season with limited movement amongst themselves available (8 teams).




My guess is that 19 teams are invited to return. 8 from East, 11 from West, and teams 8-11 do some kind of 4 team playoff or pool play to determine the #8 seed right before the playoffs start.

Haven't been following this super close, but has there been any talk about when NEXT year starts?

If they come back for this midJuly restart I would expect that is at least a two month deal. Training camp is always end of September to October 1 with the season starting third week on October.
Are they considering changing the calendar going forward?

I've read they want to start the season on Christmas going forward. I think that is to avoid as much overlap with the football season as possible.

I don't think they'll do this giant World Cup style playoff that has been discussed (and especially not with all 30 teams), but if they did, the Warriors could make some noise. Both Curry and Thompson are ready to play by next month (plus Wiggins if that's a positive).

I don't want to delegitimize this year's champion anymore than it will already be, but it would be a fun tv event to just see something off the wall like that.

This would be so good for sports life. As a person that doesn't care a ton about MLB, NBA all through the summer (between playoffs and draft) until training camp would be awesome.

I think a play in tournament for some of the teams would be exciting. If there is such a style of playoffs, I'd be interested to know if draft position is seed driven or record driven.

I like this World Cup type of idea.

https://www.theringer.com/nba/2020/5/26/21270365/nba-restart-world-cup

I like the idea in that article the idea to avoid an unbalanced group, have the Tier 1 teams (Bucks, Lakers, Clippers, Raptors) draft the teams to be in their group.

The longer this drags out, the more likely they go a straight 16-team playoff, but I think today or this weekend an announcement should be made.

It's funny to hear the results of the GM survey because all teams are voting for their teams.

Of course the 16 teams in the playoffs want to go to the playoffs and avoid group stage.
Of course any team from 17-30 is going to either get the most money for the league, with bubble teams definitely wanting an opportunity wanting a chance to get in.

question for someone smarter than me...are they taking current standings and adding 8 games to the season. or are they taking the current teams and essentially saying everyone is 0-0 and playing 8 games to seed the playoffs? i have to assume it is the former, but don't see those details.

Are they going to delay the start of next season?

texaggierm said:

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Are they going to delay the start of next season?

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Expect a Christmas start to next season, my dude.

AggieOO said:

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question for someone smarter than me...are they taking current standings and adding 8 games to the season. or are they taking the current teams and essentially saying everyone is 0-0 and playing 8 games to seed the playoffs? i have to assume it is the former, but don't see those details.

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I would think they're just adding 8 games to the current standings.

If I'm reading this correctly, after the 8 games, if #9 is within 4 games of #8, just #8 & #9 play a tournament where #8 has to lose twice, but #9 has to lose only once. But it isn't real clear because it doesn't say ONLY include, and doesn't say what happens if there is a tie.

From ESPN

The play-in tournament will include the No. 8 and No. 9 teams -- if the ninth seed finishes the regular season within four games of the eighth, sources said. In that case, the No. 8 seed enters a double-elimination tournament, and the No. 9 seed a single-elimination tournament, sources said.

Why isn't there a mention of how the playoffs will work?

This tournament is to decide the playoff teams, correct?

Brian Earl Spilner said:

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Why isn't there a mention of how the playoffs will work?

This tournament is to decide the playoff teams, correct?

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I believe they are taking the current standings and adding 8 games. This will allow teams to jockey for position in the 8/9 range, allow teams to try to move up in the playoff standings and allow players a chance to get back into rhythm.

There will only be an 8/9 playoff game (not sure why they call it a tournament) if 9 is within 4 games of 8. So looking at the current standings then whoever is on top between Blazers, Pelicans, Kings and Spurs will likely *also* be within 4 games of the Grizzlies. I don't see a path for the Suns even if they win out.

Otherwise, I think all of the seeding will be like a normal playoffs. They are mostly just giving people a chance to catch Memphis.

It's going to be interesting to see how they make the 8 game schedule for each team. That could have a big impact on those teams trying to get the 8 seed if they have to play more teams at the top of the standings than another.

Especially if a team like the Suns or Spurs realize they can't make the #9 spot so they shift to developmental mode. I don't mean tank because all these teams probably need to play.


For teams who aren't playing, they will have an 8-9 month layoff between the end of their season in March to the likely start in December.

Iowaggie said:

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Especially if a team like the Suns or Spurs realize they can't make the #9 spot so they shift to developmental mode. I don't mean tank because all these teams probably need to play.


For teams who aren't playing, they will have an 8-9 month layoff between the end of their season in March to the likely start in December.

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Stolen from the rockets thread

Interesting.

I wonder what they'll do with a team like Memphis. Of the 17 remaining games, all but 1 were against teams that will be in Florida. Based on just the number of teams there, I would guess most teams have about two-thirds of their 16-18 games against teams down in Florida, so about 12?

So is it generally first 8, fill in as needed?

What were the chances that the biggest non-owner push for the season to resume came from LeBron? I'd say 100%. They were favorites this year and as impressive as his extended prime has been, he's still 35 and the breakdown is coming. Three rings with three different teams as the team leader has to make this GOAT argument that much more compelling, right?

I bet the same thing that happened when Jordan saw the Cleveland championship happen was the same thing that happened when LeBron saw the reaction to The Last Dance.