Ideas for Season Restart

[BoomChakaLaka]

I have some thoughts - nothing I’ve read about to date, but somewhat fair and practical in my opinion:

1. season “continues” on October 15th;

2. games will be added, for what will known as the “2019-21 Season” that totals 122 games.

[most teams have 15-17 games remaining, so the existing schedule will play out between October 15 and December 15. These games (new dates, but same opponents) will be played at “6 Regional Stadiums” and broadcast on TV, with no fans in attendance]

[from December 25th through end of April, an additional 40 games will be played - and if we are clear of the virus, these games will be played in stadiums around the league with fans in attendance] note: let’s hope a vaccine or treatment is miraculously developed and available by December 1, 2020!

3. An NBA virtual draft will take place in June 2020 and each team will draft 1st and 2nd round picks as per CURENT (when the season was suspended) positioning in the standings. There will be a twist however with EVERY team having at least one ping pong ball in the lottery mix! AND, the drawing will take place on the same evening as the televised virtual draft! let’s spice it up. It will be chaotic, exciting and fun;

4. teams will be permitted to expand their rosters by one player for the 2019-2021 Season;

5. As far as free agency goes, all player contracts will be extended through December 15th. There will be a trade window / free agent signing period from Dec 16 - 20, chaotic with play continuing on December 25th. This will be crazy fun; either many will re-sign or there could be several movements that will make the 40 tensing games of 2021 super fun.

6. NBA tournament will be played as usual with a few twists;

(20) total teams qualify

Bottom (8) teams (based on 2019-2021 Season records) will play a one-game elimination game at a Regional Stadium. This will narrow the field to
(16) teams;

Based upon 2021 records (those added 40 games), the seedings will be determined for ROUND 1: best of 5 games (two / two / one format); this cuts the field to (8) teams;

ROUND 2: best of 5 games (two / two / one format) this brings you to the final four teams;

ROUND 3: best of 5 games (two / two / one format), resulting in a Finals match up

ROUND 4: NBA Finals - 7-game series. Home court will be determined by overall Season Record (all 122 games) and the series will be played two / three / two format.

All teams will have time and opportunity to qualify for the playoffs. This format both rewards teams like the Bucks and Lakers, is fair for the bubble teams (especially in the West), allows for a Draft to build some excitement, based upon current standings yet giving every team a shot at a #1-10 lottery. Deals with the free agent issue by creating a mid-December Trade/Free Agent major scramble (how fun!) and a 2021 (40 games) that hopefully sees teams playing back before their home crowds, some teams with new players via trade & free-agent signings; Anthony Davis could wind up a NY Knick for Christmas....Whiteside could re-signs with the Blazers once everyone sees the success of Whiteside / Nurkic tandem in the middle, etc.

and everything wraps up in late June 2021 so that heading into 2022 is back to normal!

predictions: after playing this out, there will be changes made for aligning a trade deadline / draft lottery / draft / free agent signings - all within the same week! This could really make GM’s work for their money. Players will have a voice? And a revised playoff structure will be found as beneficial. More teams, with shorter series. Finally, a 70-game schedule for 2022 and reformatting of current Divisional structure.

 

[ehizzy3]

The bucks get deemed the champion of 2019 season A


Let the draft happen in June like normal. Start a tournament to deem the champion the 2019 season B

Champions of each season play to win the ring

 

[BonesJones]

Not a fan. Either finish it out normally or cancel it.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

I have some thoughts - nothing I’ve read about to date, but somewhat fair and practical in my opinion:

1. season “continues” on October 15th;

2. games will be added, for what will known as the “2019-21 Season” that totals 122 games.

[most teams have 15-17 games remaining, so the existing schedule will play out between October 15 and December 15. These games (new dates, but same opponents) will be played at “6 Regional Stadiums” and broadcast on TV, with no fans in attendance]

[from December 25th through end of April, an additional 40 games will be played - and if we are clear of the virus, these games will be played in stadiums around the league with fans in attendance] note: let’s hope a vaccine or treatment is miraculously developed and available by December 1, 2020!

3. An NBA virtual draft will take place in June 2020 and each team will draft 1st and 2nd round picks as per CURENT (when the season was suspended) positioning in the standings. There will be a twist however with EVERY team having at least one ping pong ball in the lottery mix! AND, the drawing will take place on the same evening as the televised virtual draft! let’s spice it up. It will be chaotic, exciting and fun;

4. teams will be permitted to expand their rosters by one player for the 2019-2021 Season;

5. As far as free agency goes, all player contracts will be extended through December 15th. There will be a trade window / free agent signing period from Dec 16 - 20, chaotic with play continuing on December 25th. This will be crazy fun; either many will re-sign or there could be several movements that will make the 40 tensing games of 2021 super fun.

6. NBA tournament will be played as usual with a few twists;

(20) total teams qualify

Bottom (8) teams (based on 2019-2021 Season records) will play a one-game elimination game at a Regional Stadium. This will narrow the field to
(16) teams;

Based upon 2021 records (those added 40 games), the seedings will be determined for ROUND 1: best of 5 games (two / two / one format); this cuts the field to (8) teams;

ROUND 2: best of 5 games (two / two / one format) this brings you to the final four teams;

ROUND 3: best of 5 games (two / two / one format), resulting in a Finals match up

ROUND 4: NBA Finals - 7-game series. Home court will be determined by overall Season Record (all 122 games) and the series will be played two / three / two format.

All teams will have time and opportunity to qualify for the playoffs. This format both rewards teams like the Bucks and Lakers, is fair for the bubble teams (especially in the West), allows for a Draft to build some excitement, based upon current standings yet giving every team a shot at a #1-10 lottery. Deals with the free agent issue by creating a mid-December Trade/Free Agent major scramble (how fun!) and a 2021 (40 games) that hopefully sees teams playing back before their home crowds, some teams with new players via trade & free-agent signings; Anthony Davis could wind up a NY Knick for Christmas....Whiteside could re-signs with the Blazers once everyone sees the success of Whiteside / Nurkic tandem in the middle, etc.

and everything wraps up in late June 2021 so that heading into 2022 is back to normal!

predictions: after playing this out, there will be changes made for aligning a trade deadline / draft lottery / draft / free agent signings - all within the same week! This could really make GM’s work for their money. Players will have a voice? And a revised playoff structure will be found as beneficial. More teams, with shorter series. Finally, a 70-game schedule for 2022 and reformatting of current Divisional structure.

I think this is a great idea, Boom. I love the idea of an 122 game season. It will special footnote in the history of the game. It lets the Bucks hang on to their current record to build on and gives other teams a chance to improve their standing. Very well thought out. I love every single thing in your proposal.

 

[Chris Craig]

I have some thoughts - nothing I’ve read about to date, but somewhat fair and practical in my opinion:

1. season “continues” on October 15th;

2. games will be added, for what will known as the “2019-21 Season” that totals 122 games.

[most teams have 15-17 games remaining, so the existing schedule will play out between October 15 and December 15. These games (new dates, but same opponents) will be played at “6 Regional Stadiums” and broadcast on TV, with no fans in attendance]

[from December 25th through end of April, an additional 40 games will be played - and if we are clear of the virus, these games will be played in stadiums around the league with fans in attendance] note: let’s hope a vaccine or treatment is miraculously developed and available by December 1, 2020!

3. An NBA virtual draft will take place in June 2020 and each team will draft 1st and 2nd round picks as per CURENT (when the season was suspended) positioning in the standings. There will be a twist however with EVERY team having at least one ping pong ball in the lottery mix! AND, the drawing will take place on the same evening as the televised virtual draft! let’s spice it up. It will be chaotic, exciting and fun;

4. teams will be permitted to expand their rosters by one player for the 2019-2021 Season;

5. As far as free agency goes, all player contracts will be extended through December 15th. There will be a trade window / free agent signing period from Dec 16 - 20, chaotic with play continuing on December 25th. This will be crazy fun; either many will re-sign or there could be several movements that will make the 40 tensing games of 2021 super fun.

6. NBA tournament will be played as usual with a few twists;

(20) total teams qualify

Bottom (8) teams (based on 2019-2021 Season records) will play a one-game elimination game at a Regional Stadium. This will narrow the field to
(16) teams;

Based upon 2021 records (those added 40 games), the seedings will be determined for ROUND 1: best of 5 games (two / two / one format); this cuts the field to (8) teams;

ROUND 2: best of 5 games (two / two / one format) this brings you to the final four teams;

ROUND 3: best of 5 games (two / two / one format), resulting in a Finals match up

ROUND 4: NBA Finals - 7-game series. Home court will be determined by overall Season Record (all 122 games) and the series will be played two / three / two format.

All teams will have time and opportunity to qualify for the playoffs. This format both rewards teams like the Bucks and Lakers, is fair for the bubble teams (especially in the West), allows for a Draft to build some excitement, based upon current standings yet giving every team a shot at a #1-10 lottery. Deals with the free agent issue by creating a mid-December Trade/Free Agent major scramble (how fun!) and a 2021 (40 games) that hopefully sees teams playing back before their home crowds, some teams with new players via trade & free-agent signings; Anthony Davis could wind up a NY Knick for Christmas....Whiteside could re-signs with the Blazers once everyone sees the success of Whiteside / Nurkic tandem in the middle, etc.

and everything wraps up in late June 2021 so that heading into 2022 is back to normal!

predictions: after playing this out, there will be changes made for aligning a trade deadline / draft lottery / draft / free agent signings - all within the same week! This could really make GM’s work for their money. Players will have a voice? And a revised playoff structure will be found as beneficial. More teams, with shorter series. Finally, a 70-game schedule for 2022 and reformatting of current Divisional structure.

Very creative and very complicated

 

[BoomChakaLaka]

I think this is a great idea, Boom. I love the idea of an 122 game season. It will special footnote in the history of the game. It lets the Bucks hang on to their current record to build on and gives other teams a chance to improve their standing. Very well thought out. I love every single thing in your proposal.

Thank you!

 

[BoomChakaLaka]

Very creative and very complicated

On some levels it’s complicated yet as a whole, it’s simplistic in its fairness.

The situation the NBA finds itself is totally complicated!

 

[Sedatedfork]

Can the league just unilaterally extend contracts?

 

[beast blazer]

Why not play in empty arenas?

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Can the league just unilaterally extend contracts?

No. They can not pay players for games missed as that's in CBA. Other changes outside the CBA have to be agreed by the union.

Players wont want to take huge paycuts to combine into two seasons. Owners won't want to pay salaries when there is no revenue. That'll add another hurdle to negotiate beside what system seems to make sense.

 

[BoomChakaLaka]

Can the league just unilaterally extend contracts?

well, my rationale is to extend by calendar time but remain true to the remaining 15-17 games. At this point we’d be at December 15th (as per my proposal) and players would have to be re-signed, traded (or sign & trade) or signed by a new team with play commencing December 25th for the 2021 additional 40 games.

 

[BoomChakaLaka]

Why not play in empty arenas?

certainly could. My proposal of playing in “regional stadiums” is due to economics and moreover, safety for players, coaches, broadcasters, etc. There would be less travel going on. TV crews could stay in place. There would be positive economic benefit to these selected regional communities (the hotels housing teams, stadium jobs, etc.) and this may be unfair. But it’s the safest way to approach the games (Oct 15 - Dec 15) as COVID-19 will not have been eradicated nor a vaccine developed.

my hope would be that by Dec 25, we could begin playing games (with fans) however if the virus remains a problem, then the 40 games of 2021 would stay as regionally played games.

 

[Mediocre Man]

My idea is not to

 

[Jon]

continue it like normal. cancel summer league. draft on a later date. shortened summer. start back up in October.

they get paid millions of dollars. they can deal with a shortened summer.

 

[BoomChakaLaka]

I have some thoughts - nothing I’ve read about to date, but somewhat fair and practical in my opinion:

1. season “continues” on October 15th;

2. games will be added, for what will known as the “2019-21 Season” that totals 122 games.

[most teams have 15-17 games remaining, so the existing schedule will play out between October 15 and December 15. These games (new dates, but same opponents) will be played at “6 Regional Stadiums” and broadcast on TV, with no fans in attendance]

[from December 25th through end of April, an additional 40 games will be played - and if we are clear of the virus, these games will be played in stadiums around the league with fans in attendance] note: let’s hope a vaccine or treatment is miraculously developed and available by December 1, 2020!

3. An NBA virtual draft will take place in June 2020 and each team will draft 1st and 2nd round picks as per CURENT (when the season was suspended) positioning in the standings. There will be a twist however with EVERY team having at least one ping pong ball in the lottery mix! AND, the drawing will take place on the same evening as the televised virtual draft! let’s spice it up. It will be chaotic, exciting and fun;

4. teams will be permitted to expand their rosters by one player for the 2019-2021 Season;

5. As far as free agency goes, all player contracts will be extended through December 15th. There will be a trade window / free agent signing period from Dec 16 - 20, chaotic with play continuing on December 25th. This will be crazy fun; either many will re-sign or there could be several movements that will make the 40 tensing games of 2021 super fun.

6. NBA tournament will be played as usual with a few twists;

(20) total teams qualify

Bottom (8) teams (based on 2019-2021 Season records) will play a one-game elimination game at a Regional Stadium. This will narrow the field to
(16) teams;

Based upon 2021 records (those added 40 games), the seedings will be determined for ROUND 1: best of 5 games (two / two / one format); this cuts the field to (8) teams;

ROUND 2: best of 5 games (two / two / one format) this brings you to the final four teams;

ROUND 3: best of 5 games (two / two / one format), resulting in a Finals match up

ROUND 4: NBA Finals - 7-game series. Home court will be determined by overall Season Record (all 122 games) and the series will be played two / three / two format.

All teams will have time and opportunity to qualify for the playoffs. This format both rewards teams like the Bucks and Lakers, is fair for the bubble teams (especially in the West), allows for a Draft to build some excitement, based upon current standings yet giving every team a shot at a #1-10 lottery. Deals with the free agent issue by creating a mid-December Trade/Free Agent major scramble (how fun!) and a 2021 (40 games) that hopefully sees teams playing back before their home crowds, some teams with new players via trade & free-agent signings; Anthony Davis could wind up a NY Knick for Christmas....Whiteside could re-signs with the Blazers once everyone sees the success of Whiteside / Nurkic tandem in the middle, etc.

and everything wraps up in late June 2021 so that heading into 2022 is back to normal!

predictions: after playing this out, there will be changes made for aligning a trade deadline / draft lottery / draft / free agent signings - all within the same week! This could really make GM’s work for their money. Players will have a voice? And a revised playoff structure will be found as beneficial. More teams, with shorter series. Finally, a 70-game schedule for 2022 and reformatting of current Divisional structure.

Bump

 

[riverman]

I would like the league to restructure into 4 divisions that don't play each other until the playoffs and stop the ridiculous travel...entertainment as well should stop with the touring constantly and settle down...I think your idea for resolving this season and next is brilliant though...well thought out

 

[Wizard Mentor]

In each conference...
10 vs 7, 9 vs 8. Winners are 7th and 8th seed - 5 game series.
Then, playoffs begin as normal.

So, in the West, Blazers-Grizz and Pels-Mavs (Sac out via tiebreaker), both of which would be entertaining.
In the East, Magic-Wiz and Nets-Hornets.

 

[tlongII]

They won’t restart the season unless they can figure out how to make money from it.

 

[riverman]

They won’t restart the season unless they can figure out how to make money from it.

I disagree...the owners already know how to make money but if they bleed a bit now they may survive as a league, if they don't, they may lose their league...they already lost a huge fortune in the Chinese market with the Rockets fiasco....3 Ball is ready to step in and entertain right now...the NBA has to give fans a reason to stick around

 

[Minstrel]

The NBA is not going to fold over a missed season. It may or may not depress revenues for a short time--even that I'm not sure of, since this won't be due to a labor dispute, which tends to turn fans off. Losing a season due to a pandemic isn't going to create bad feelings. People will be itching for the return of the NBA. The Big Three is in no way a replacement.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Yeah I think starting to soon, starting then having to stop, or starting with controversy such as NBA hogging testing could harm long term.

Delaying the start or canceling the season won't hurt long term but it will hurt in the short term.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

The NBA is not going to fold over a missed season. It may or may not depress revenues for a short time--even that I'm not sure of, since this won't be due to a labor dispute, which tends to turn fans off. Losing a season due to a pandemic isn't going to create bad feelings. People will be itching for the return of the NBA. The Big Three is in no way a replacement.

Not sure if I agree. The longer an entertainment venue is out-of-sight / out-of-mind, the more people will find other things to do their “entertainment time”. There are so many outlets for entertainment at this point that they could lose big chunks of fans just who fall off because they found something else to do. Only the less casual fans are “itching” for sports to return, others have probably discovered things to do already. Its why the NFL does what they do, and the NBA has always tried to emulate it, make it so there is news year round so they never really exit peoples minds.

The NBA will probably be fime, but doesnt seem far-fetched to think their presence will diminish if they lose a season or more.

 

[riverman]

Big Three is in no way a replacement.

it's not a comparison of the sports as much as which is sustainable financially...we're going to see changes in entertainment practices in my view...particularly in the way we participate amd the travel ..music changed from giant bands to trios in the 50s....the economy just couldn't support big bands anymore..that is what I think we don't want to see happen but is entirely possible

 

[e_blazer]

It seems like from almost every article I read that the thought is to restart the league around July and have the playoffs wrap up in September. I think the Disney World bubble venue makes the most sense. By then, there should be enough tests available that the league won't look bad by doing the constant testing that will be needed. I also think that a play-in along the lines of @Wizard Mentor 's suggestion makes the most sense. There isn't enough time to play out the regular season and there's no reason to play for the teams like the Warriors who are out of contention, or the other bad teams who have no realistic shot at making the playoffs anyway.

 

[Minstrel]

Not sure if I agree. The longer an entertainment venue is out-of-sight / out-of-mind, the more people will find other things to do their “entertainment time”. There are so many outlets for entertainment at this point that they could lose big chunks of fans just who fall off because they found something else to do. Only the less casual fans are “itching” for sports to return, others have probably discovered things to do already.

Yup, we disagree. Of course they've found other things to do--so have the "hardcore" fans. They have to find other things to do because there is no basketball. They do that every year when the NBA is in the off-season too. Finding things to do while there's no basketball doesn't mean that when basketball returns they decide "Well, I found other things to do when there wasn't any--I'm done with basketball."

If the league disappeared for 5-10 years, maybe everyone would lose interest permanently. Even then, I doubt it. I think when basketball came back, people would start watching again. A partial season lost, or even a full season lost, is not going to be the end of the NBA.

 

[riverman]

Yup, we disagree. Of course they've found other things to do--so have the "hardcore" fans. They have to find other things to do because there is no basketball. They do that every year when the NBA is in the off-season too. Finding things to do while there's no basketball doesn't mean that when basketball returns they decide "Well, I found other things to do when there wasn't any--I'm done with basketball."

If the league disappeared for 5-10 years, maybe everyone would lose interest permanently. Even then, I doubt it. I think when basketball came back, people would start watching again. A partial season lost, or even a full season lost, is not going to be the end of the NBA.

This will be like a lockout season...my question is whether they feel the need to alter the way it's viewed and scheduled...I think they will change a lot of things we've grown used to

 

[Minstrel]

it's not a comparison of the sports as much as which is sustainable financially...we're going to see changes in entertainment practices in my view...particularly in the way we participate amd the travel ..music changed from giant bands to trios in the 50s....the economy just couldn't support big bands anymore..that is what I think we don't want to see happen but is entirely possible

But the NBA wasn't struggling. It was doing extremely well. It's not in hiatus now because "the economy can't support it" or because it's having financial issues. It's in hiatus because we have a global pandemic and it's not safe for players or fans to congregate. So I don't understand how you think this is an issue of sustainability.

Also, while it's a bit of a side issue, I have to disagree with you that big band music died out because the "economy couldn't support" big bands. Big bands died out because fashion and taste changed. Bebop jazz became a bigger thing and then, obviously, rock and roll. Someday, maybe, basketball will become unfashionable--but right now it's as popular as it's ever been.

 

[Minstrel]

This will be like a lockout season...my question is whether they feel the need to alter the way it's viewed and scheduled...I think they will change a lot of things we've grown used to

Agreed, to an extent. And the lockout season didn't cause the NBA any serious long-term harm. Also, as I noted before, lockouts/strikes tend to engender ill will with fans because they don't like labor strife. A pandemic causing basketball to close for a time isn't even going to create that ill will.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

Yup, we disagree. Of course they've found other things to do--so have the "hardcore" fans. They have to find other things to do because there is no basketball. They do that every year when the NBA is in the off-season too. Finding things to do while there's no basketball doesn't mean that when basketball returns they decide "Well, I found other things to do when there wasn't any--I'm done with basketball."

If the league disappeared for 5-10 years, maybe everyone would lose interest permanently. Even then, I doubt it. I think when basketball came back, people would start watching again. A partial season lost, or even a full season lost, is not going to be the end of the NBA.

Well during the off-season of the NFL / NBA look at how much basketball there is to talk about, Summer league, the draft, combines, power-rankings of next year for the NBA the only month of the year that's quiet is August and that's if no big trades happen in August. Months/weeks of no real news are not good for business whether that means the end or not. Speaking for myself most NBA off-seasons are not "NBA-less" I'm still doing/thinking about NBA related things and getting excited about the next season. Right now there is really nothing to talk about in regards to the NBA except will they play sometime. Coming here is about the extent of my NBA time and even then the none basketball-related stuff is where most people find themselves at this point.

the NBA is entertainment though, and if other venues have got their hooks into people it will be hard for the NBA or any league to drag people back at least some of them, especially if it goes a year+.it's been a couple of months and I'm kinda apathetic towards it because I've found plenty of other things to do. I hope that when they ever come back I can make myself re-engage but our options for entertainment are more robust than ever thanks to technology.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

Agreed, to an extent. And the lockout season didn't cause the NBA any serious long-term harm. Also, as I noted before, lockouts/strikes tend to engender ill will with fans because they don't like labor strife. A pandemic causing basketball to close for a time isn't even going to create that ill will.

I'd say a pandemic is worse for the NBA and sports though then a lock-out. A lockout makes people go ok rich guys play some sports. A pandemic makes people take a step back and think about what is actually valuable to them and what "hobbies" are fruitful, makes them look at kids/family / etc in a different way then they did before because of the fragility and shortness of life are on display more.
edit:
Also in this case the economics of things certainly can't help. If people are having trouble affording to eat because of months of no or little income, they won't be buying merch/tickets.

I don't think this spells the doom of the NBA, but I do think it'll be interesting how long it takes them to recover, I expect the first few 'games' played of any sport will get ridiculous ratings, and then who knows after that.