The NBA has been on hold since March 11 as the world handles the global coronavirus pandemic, but it appears that there is some light at the end of the tunnel in terms of a return.
On Thursday, the league’s Board of Governors are expected to vote on and approve the NBA’s return to play plan. On Wednesday, it appears that the plan has been revealed a bit as The Athletic and The Stadium’s Shams Charania released some details on how a potential play-in tournament would work.
Charania:
The play-in tournament would work as follows, according to sources: 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.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski then added that each of the 22 teams will play eight more regular-season games before the playoffs to determine seeding.
The NBA's Board of Governors has a 12:30 PM ET call on Thursday with the intention of approving the league's plan for a 22-team return-to-play in Orlando, sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/Sh7k6ylCdz
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 3, 2020
There will not be a home-court advantage during this time. Each of the teams will be playing in a “bubble site” at Disney World in Orlando. The important factor is, it does appear that the league has a concrete plan for a return and that they are headed towards a safe resumption of the season.
So the NBA's inviting 22 teams to Orlando: 13 Western Conference, 9 Eastern Conference. Eight-regular season games per team. Play-in for the 8th seeds. July 31-October 12. Vote tomorrow to ratify.
The NBA's back.— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 3, 2020
The NBA is back. [lawrence-related id=32524,32516,32495]