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The NBA seems to be a long way from having a playoff to conclude the 2019-20 season that’s been on hold two months because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The dialogue about having a postseason end with a champion continues, though.
Commissioner Adam Silver prefers best-of-7 series, but he’s also mulling over play-in tournament games to involve more teams.
Orlando and Las Vegas are desired playoff destinations, but fans will more than likely not be a part of the in-person experience.
Then there’s the time frame for teams to get ready for playoffs.
The league might think three weeks is enough time. The players and their agents will want more like five to six weeks, if not more. This falls in line with ESPN reporting the National Basketball Players Association is asking NBA players a simple, but very, very important yes/no question: Do you want to resume this season?
Answers are to be kept confidential.
Good luck with that, but the union is reportedly trying to get a pulse of the league’s 400-plus players. The NBPA has since released a statement through The Athletic that it’s not “engaging in and has not authorized any formal poll of its players.”
Regardless of whatever method of conversation the players are having, a vote of any kind in favor of resuming the season might not even matter.
No testing, no games
Until there’s a vaccine for COVID-19, which is reportedly a year in the making, major pro sports leagues could remain on hold. The risk outweighs the financial gain, but leagues must also address testing if they are to resume seasons at all.
If there’s a postseason, the NBA should test the teams two and a half weeks before the playoffs. Those who have the virus must be treated and quarantined for 14 days.
Then everyone must take the test again before playing postseason games.
There are certainly concerns across this entire process, and factors the NBA must take into account — including looking past a playoff.
Health and safety first and foremost.
Then planning for next season: Draft. Free agency.
Collective Bargaining Agreement implications.
And more.
The time it takes to mull through the scenarios is why the NBA is being extra careful about resuming a season. One major mistake can lead to a disastrous scenario the league wouldn’t be able to overcome.
13-team playoff?
If the NBA winds up having a playoff, the fewer teams, the better. That lessens the risk of contracting the virus.
Sixteen teams traditionally make the playoffs. More games equal more TV money, but again, dollars can’t take precedence over the health and safety of the players.
So much to consider, but there is one way to determine which teams make the playoff:
Wins and losses.
Thirteen teams have winning records. They should be the only ones in the playoffs.
Sorry Memphis, Brooklyn and Orlando.
The seeding should be based on the winning percentage of those 13 teams.
- Milwaukee 53-12 (.815)
- Los Angeles Lakers 49-14 (.778)
- Toronto 46-18 (.719)
- Los Angeles Clippers 44-20 (.688)
- Boston 43-21 (.672)
- Denver 43-22 (.662)
- Utah 41-23 (.641)
- Miami 41-24 (.631)
- Oklahoma City 40-24 (.625)
- Houston 40-24 (.625)
- Indiana 39-26 (.600)
- Philadelphia 39-26 (.600)
- Dallas 40-27 (.597)
This is an unprecedented situation. So, the playoff format can be unconventional.
There are a couple of same-record situations – Oklahoma City-Houston and Indiana-Philadelphia.
The Thunder won the season series, 2-1. They’ll receive a higher seed.
The Pacers were leading the season series, 2-1, before the season was put on hold March 11. Still had one more game against the 76ers, but Indiana will receive a higher seed.
That leaves Philadelphia facing Dallas in a play-in game with the winner taking on Oklahoma City, a nine seed.
The play-in game can be played in Orlando to kick off the playoffs.
The Bucks have the one seed, which can be played in Orlando.
Call it the MIL Bracket.
The Lakers have the two seed, which can be played in Las Vegas.
Call it the LAL Bracket.
Maybe even Phoenix could be a playoff option as Gov. Doug Ducey announced Tuesday pro sports teams can return to work Friday when the stay-home policy expires.
Unconventional playoff schedule
The scheduling could go as follows:
- Play-in game/First round – Single elimination
- Second round – Single elimination
- Third round – Best-of-3
- Quarterfinals – Best-of-5
- Semifinals – Best-of-5
- Finals – Best-of-7
The scheduling of this is so important.
Again, the fewer teams in one location, the better.
The play-in game and first round would consist of five teams. Those games can be played in Orlando.
Three games. Three days. Give the Indiana/Philadelphia winner a day’s rest.
A week later, the second round can launch in Las Vegas.
Four teams. Two games.
Make it a doubleheader. That’s one night in Vegas. Fly in. Play. Fly out.
There should be a week between rounds and games could be played on weekends.
Third round. Have Boston play in Orlando and Denver in Las Vegas.
Best-of-3 series. Doubleheaders starting Wednesday with a day off between games. Series will end no later than Sunday.
Teams must exchange film after both games are played for third round, quarterfinals and semifinals.
Quarterfinals. Have Los Angeles Clippers play in Vegas and Toronto in Orlando.
Best-of-5 series. Doubleheaders starting Wednesday with a day off between Game 1 and 2, two days between Game 2 and 3 and a day between Game 3, 4 and 5.
Series shouldn’t end no later than the following weekend.
Semifinals. Have Milwaukee play in Orlando and Los Angeles Lakers in Vegas.
Best-of-5 series. Same schedule format as the quarterfinals.
Finals. Best-of-7. Location. Vegas.
Start series on Tuesday. Have a day off between Game 1 and 2. Two days between Game 2 and 3. A day between Game 3 and 4 and 5. Two days between Game 5 and 6 and a day between Game 6 and 7.
The NBA will come up with something better.
Probably way better, but the coronavirus pandemic may discourage and ultimately prevent the league from having a playoff and ending it with a champion.
Have opinion about current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at [email protected] or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on Twitter at @DuaneRankin.
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