The NBA will resume on July 31 at Disney with a tailor-made regulation

After a timeout of four and a half months due to the coronavirus, the game will resume in the NBA, from July 31 at Disney World (Florida), where will be crowned a champion among the 22 teams affected by an unprecedented end of the season .

The announcement, made Thursday by the North American league, was awaited by all basketball fans. It was still necessary for this that the recovery plan for the season was approved by at least three-quarters of the 30 franchise owners. In the end, 29 gave the green light. Only Portland, however concerned by this recovery, voted against.

Start of next season in December

"This is a first step among many others necessary to resume the championship," said Commissioner Adam Silver. After being the first to suspend the season in his league, followed by his counterparts in other sports, he is the first to announce his return, with precise date, place and format.

The next step should be a formality Friday, the players' union (NBPA) in turn to follow suit, even if its general manager Michelle Roberts said she was surprised by the date set for December 1 to start the following season.

It's official friends. Cava do everything funny to resume in December😱 https://t.co/6KTirqwHMF

In the meantime, July 31 should mark the return to play four and a half months after the positive test at Covid-19 by French Rudy Gobert (Utah Jazz). Its epilogue is scheduled for October 12 at the latest if the finals are played in seven games. All the meetings will take place at Disney World in Orlando, more precisely on the huge site "ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex", which has three rooms, as well as hotels capable of accommodating delegations (limited to 35 people) .

The older coaches deprived of bench?

The security protocols against the coronavirus promise to be strict, between temperature measurements, wearing of masks, social distancing, and especially tests carried out daily. "We hope we can end the season safely and responsibly," said Adam Silver, also concerned with ensuring the safety of veteran coaches, such as Gregg Popovich (71 / San Antonio) or Mike D'Antoni (69 / Houston ). "Some may not end up on the bench," he suggested.

On the sporting side, the 22 teams concerned are the first eight of each conference on the evening of March 11: Milwaukee, Toronto, Boston, Miami, Indiana, Philadelphia, Brooklyn, Orlando in the East; Lakers, Clippers, Denver, Utah, Oklahoma City, Houston, Dallas, Memphis to the West. As well as the six clubs that are six wins or less from 8th place in each conference: New Orleans, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, San Antonio to the West, and only Washington to the East.

A tailor-made regulation

Each will first play eight regular season games. After which, the play-off table will be almost known, since the first seven of each conference will be directly qualified. The 8th and last sesame will be, in the East as in the West, the object of a possible barrage.

Two scenarios will be possible. If the 9th is more than 4 games behind the 8th, the latter is directly qualified for the play-offs, without playing a play-off. If the 9th is 4 games or less behind the 8th, the two compete in the play-off. The 8th must win once to qualify, the 9th must win twice.

More on what we know about the NBA restart, from the @Lakers perspective: https://t.co/mIaUiOVb1b

This plan excludes the eight lowest ranked championships, all conferences combined, and therefore marks the end of the season for Charlotte, Chicago, New York, Detroit, Atlanta, Cleveland, Minnesota and Golden State. "Although we are disappointed that the season is over and we would have preferred to continue playing, we understand the recommendation and the decision of the league," said the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Finally, if the NBA is about to bounce back in the wonderful world of Disney, the very real one in which players currently find themselves oscillates between the uncertainties and worries linked to the coronavirus, and the anger and indignation accumulated over the past ten days since the death of George Floyd after an arrest.

“I trust that the NBA and its players will use their platform and their voices to the growing chorus calling out for change.” @realchriswebber delivers a message about the power of sports. pic.twitter.com/RC4yBeMfOZ

“We recognize that our society is shaken by the recent tragedies of racial violence and injustice. We will continue to work with our teams and players to use our resources and influence to solve these problems in a very concrete way, ”promised Adam Silver.

The possibility of some players kneeling on the ground in Florida exists. This would not only make people talk, but would also testify to the vitality of the NBA, determined to avoid an annus horribilis, between a diplomatic crisis with China, the tragic death of Kobe Bryant and the ever-present coronavirus pandemic, on which the dunks didn’t just waiting to be slammed.

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