It's coming up to three months since the NBA season was brought to a stop by the Covid-19 pandemic but a return to action is looking likelier with every passing day. While the NBA's European counterpart the EuroLeague announced on Monday that it would be cancelling the season without announcing any winners, the continental differences in approach to handling the virus are likely to be mirrored by how the respective basketball competitions conclude their seasons. In short, the NBA will return.
Proposals are being pitched and reported about in the news, a 'bubble' site at Disney's ESPN Wide World of Sports complex in Florida is prominently touted. The logistics of such an arrangement are the kind that could cause a headache. Players would have to stay in the same complex for practice, games and housing. Okay, that could work, but, as Charles Barkley pointed out, containment goes beyond the players. "They say they are going to put them in a hotel for two or three months. Are the maids going to be in the hotel for two or three months?" Barkley asked on Monday on ESPN's The Paul Finebaum Show. "The maids are going to go home every day. What about the people in room service? They're going to go home every day. So it is just a lot of unanswered questions."
That's before we even get into deciding how the NBA Championship itself will be contested. A new play-off format could be adopted for this most bizarre of seasons. With travel not being an issue, instead of having both an Eastern Conference and a Western Conference, the play-offs may be reseeded so that coastal giants can face off before the final. This idea has been pushed before so if it was used this year and it proved popular, it could lead to a rejigging of the format. Teams in the play-off positions will roll with whatever format is decided upon. Teams outside of that 16-team tier will have cause for concern if a decision is made to scrap the regular season (for the sake of shortening the campaign) and proceeding to the play-offs now.
If this was the case then the Chicago Bulls' season would be over, so let's hope it's not. Netflix hit The Last Dance is sure to attract new fans to the NBA when it eventually returns. Those who were captivated by the feats of Jordan and Pippen will be surprised to see the Bulls struggling. How much longer this struggle should be allowed to go on for is the burning question behind the scenes with Bulls coach Jim Boylen walking a tightrope. Reports indicate that Boylen could take the fall for what has been a poor campaign. Results aren't the only factor in deciding his fate with his inability to get the best out of a young roster also being considered. For the Bulls and the NBA, there are more questions than answers. When the NBA does return, make sure that you check out WinComparator for the best deals with bookmakers. Click here for comprehensive reviews of betting sites.
