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With the NBA discussing its options on restarting the 2019-20 season, one potential scenario includes a World Cup-style format with 20-24 teams competing in the playoffs.
The league office is still considering how a return-to-play would look like as a decision is reportedly going to be finalized in the next week. The NBA has already announced that they are in discussions with The Walt Disney Company to restart at the Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando, Florida, which could happen as soon as July.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne of ESPN, NBA commissioner Adam Silver will be speaking with general managers and the Board of Governors on Thursday and Friday to discuss plans to resume the season. Among the options, a play-in tournament, pool play and regular-season games are being discussed.
There is a playoffs-plus idea that includes 20 to 24 teams, with the NBA including more teams from the Western Conference than the Eastern Conference, sources said. The NBA is considering play-in possibilities with teams like New Orleans, Portland, San Antonio and Sacramento vying for the postseason.
Prior to the season suspension, teams like the Pelicans and Trail Blazers were on the outside of the playoff picture looking in. The NBA would like to give those teams the opportunity to qualify for the postseason since they will not have the chance to do so with the remainder of the regular season likely scrapped.
The idea of potentially having the Pelicans and Zion Williamson in the playoffs in any format is likely appealing for the NBA given the attention Williamson receives on the court and off of it. While no decision has been finalized, it appears as though Williamson will see his first taste of playoff basketball this year.
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