NBA’s 22-team plan to resume season is official

The NBA Board of Governors voted Thursday to approve a plan for 22 teams to resume the 2019-20 season at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando starting on July 31.

Sources: Additional dates NBA informed on Board of Governors call:
– June 15, players located internationally return to market
– June 21, all players report
– June 22, coronavirus testing begins https://t.co/kFZajb3Ioz

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 4, 2020

The plan passed by a vote of 29-1 with the Portland Trailblazers casting the only vote against it. The season was shut down by the league on March 11 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sources: Portland was the lone team that voted against the 22-team format. https://t.co/WxxADXEkNb

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 4, 2020

All teams involved will play eight regular-season games before the usual conference playoff seedings and matchups are determined.

The six teams invited that are currently not in postseason positions include the New Orleans Pelicans. Five of six including the Pels are from the Western Conference.

In a departure from the usual way the league determines playoff teams, there is potential for a play-in tournament between teams in eighth and ninth in the conference standings.

If the team finishing ninth in the conference is within four games of the eighth-place team, the No. 9 team will have the chance to overtake the No. 8 team head-to-head. However, the No. 9 team will have to defeat No. 8 two times in a row while the No. 8 team only needs one win to keep it’s position as the conference’s final playoff seed.

The NBA plan states that the playoffs will be concluded by October 12.

The NBA teams who will participate in Orlando and the current league standings are below:

Western Conference

Los Angeles Lakers: 49-14
Los Angeles Clippers: 44-20, 5.5 GB
Denver Nuggets: 43-22, 7.0 GB
Utah Jazz: 41-23, 8.5 GB
Oklahoma City Thunder: 40-24, 9.5 GB
Houston Rockets: 40-24, 9.5 GB
Dallas Mavericks: 40-27, 11.0 GB
Memphis Grizzlies: 32-33, 18.0 GB
Portland Trail Blazers: 29-37, 21.5 GB
New Orleans Pelicans: 28-36, 21.5 GB
Sacramento Kings: 28-36, 21.5 GB
San Antonio Spurs: 27-36, 22 GB
Phoenix Suns: 26-39, 24 GB

Eastern Conference

Milwaukee Bucks: 53-12
Toronto Raptors: 46-18, 6.5 GB
Boston Celtics: 43-21, 9.5 GB
Miami Heat: 41-24, 12.0 GB
Indiana Pacers: 39-26, 14.0 GB
Philadelphia 76ers: 39-26, 14.0 GB
Brooklyn Nets: 30-34, 22.5 GB
Orlando Magic: 30-35, 23.0 GB
Washington Wizards: 24-40, 28.5 GB