The NBA is considering restart its 2019-20 season, which is currently suspended because of the novel coronavirus pandemic, in Orlando, Florida, the US, in mid-July, per Shams Charania and Sam Amick of The Athletic.
That resumption of play might include teams well outside the playoff picture with just one month of regular-season games left on the slate. There’s little to nothing for teams far outside the top eight playoff seeds in each conference to play for at this juncture.
Of note, Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said on a video conference call (h/t Laurence Miedema of the Mercury News) that his 15-50 team is in “offseason mode.”
He said that it feels like the offseason and in fact they had a Zoom call last week to have a chance to check in as well as a chance for Bob to update the players on his contact with the latest news and the league.
In the East, the eighth-place Orlando Magic are 5.5 games ahead of the ninth-place Washington Wizards. In the West, the eighth-place Memphis Grizzlies hold a 3.5-game edge over a trio of teams tied for ninth in the Portland Trail Blazers, New Orleans Pelicans and Sacramento Kings. The San Antonio Spurs are a half-game behind that group.
However, the Western Conference playoff picture makes the case for regular-season resumption or a play-in tournament. Four teams are within four games of the Grizzlies, including some of the game’s biggest stars in the Blazers’ Damian Lillard and the Pels’ Zion Williamson. Giving those teams an opportunity to put themselves in playoff position would be ideal if it is logistically feasible.
Those teams could try to find their rhythm and also gain some momentum going into the offseason, or could give some untested players a crack at the rotation.
However, it’s understandable as to why non-contending teams might be looking forward to next year already given the long hiatus and to finish out the season at a neutral site away from family.