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The NBA season is upon us to resume as a new format, and a new host city is already determined. When the season stopped on its tracks due to the pandemic, there were pending approximately 15 regular-season games.
After months of studying, planning, and negotiating, it appears that the NBA has found the right way to finish the season, and it is a very intriguing one. Here's everything you need to know for the NBA season restart.
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When will it restart?
The tentative start for the season is July 31, with the Finals scheduled to end in mid-October, presumably around the 12-15 of the month.
Where will the NBA take place?
The teams will play in the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex in Orlando. For practices and houses, Walt Disney Resort will be the home for all players and staff.
Are the 30 teams returning?
No. For the resuming of the season, only 22 teams will play games. The teams involved will be the 16 in playoff positions, and the six teams currently six games or lower behind the eighth seed in their respective conferences.
For the Eastern Conference, teams invited are:
- Milwaukee Bucks
- Toronto Raptors
- Boston Celtics
- Miami Heat
- Indiana Pacers
- Philadelphia 76ers
- Brooklyn Nets
- Orlando Magic
- Washington Wizards
For the Western Conference, the 13 teams on the run are:
- Los Angeles Lakers
- LA Clippers
- Denver Nuggets
- Utah Jazz
- Oklahoma City Thunder
- Houston Rockets
- Dallas Mavericks
- Memphis Grizzlies
- Portland Trail Blazers
- New Orleans Pelicans
- Sacramento Kings
- San Antonio Spurs
- Phoenix Suns
How will the season move forward?
The season will resume with eight seeding games. However, the eighth seed could come via a play-in tournament. Don't miss any of the NBA betting action. Register now.
What is a play-in tournament?
A play-in tournament will only happen if the ninth seed is four games or fewer below the eighth seed.
The tournament will be a best of two series between the eighth and ninth seed. The ninth seed will have to win both two games to overtake the last spot for the playoffs.
Will the playoffs change the format?
No, not at all. If needed -and after- the play-in tournament, the postseason will not change. It will start with a first-round based on seedings and a best-of-seven round series, all the way through the NBA Finals.
When will the NBA Lottery take place?
The defined date for the Lottery of the 2021 season is August 25 and is subject to change if the season restart delays from the July 31 date.
How will the NBA Lottery teams be determined?
The Lottery teams will be the eight teams not invited to Orlando, plus the ones left out of the playoffs after the seeding games. These teams would be seeded in the Lottery and assigned odds based on their records through March 11.
The 16 playoff teams would draft in the inverse order across regular-season games and seeding games record.
Who are the favorites to win the NBA championship?
The odds show three clear candidates to win the ring, two LA teams, both the Lakers and the Clippers. Plus the East behemoths, the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Lakers (+200), with LeBron James and Anthony Davis, are as smooth a team can be, they have good role players who can drain some threes while the two Allstars command both ends of the floor.
The Clippers (+300) were a good team but saw their production maximized with the arrival of Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. Probably the two best two-way players in the game, the Clippers are a threat. Plus, the playoff version of Kawhi Leonard is barely human and more like a Terminator-style cyborg.
The East rulers, the Bucks have Giannis Antetokounmpo, and the Greek Freak is the graphic representation of a mismatch. Amazing on defense while dominating on offense, the current MVP is a man on a mission to carry the Bucks to a championship.
