OT Report: Decision On 2019-20 Season To Be Made In Two To Four Weeks

"by Casey Holdahl
Posted: May 13, 2020
There hasn't been much detail coming out of the league office regarding if, when and how the 2019-20 NBA season, suspended on March 11 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, might resume. Other than stating any and all decisions would be made based off of the best available data, the league has been almost completely mum on what next steps might look like and when those steps might be taken.

But, according to reports, at least a decision on when a decision will be made might be coming sooner rather than later.

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said on a call with the NBA's Board of Governors that a decision on potentially re-starting the 2019-20 season would be made within the next month, if not sooner...

The NBA shared with owners several factors that it plans to study over the next two to four weeks before deciding on restarting the league.

Among them, sources said: Understanding the trajectory of new cases in those states starting to reopen, understanding who is getting severely ill and why, and developments in testing types. The NBA also is studying how other leagues are handling positive tests among participants, sources said.

Wojnarowski also notes that Silver discussed what a resumption of play might look like -- re-starting the league in a quarantined "campus environment" in either Las Vegas or Orlando seem to be the odds-on favorites -- and how the league would deal with players or coaches testing positive for COVID-19 if/when play does resume.

Of course, the NBA making a decision about if/when/how the season might resume is completely dependent on how the pandemic continues to play out. Silver said on a conference call with reporters earlier in the shutdown that "it's about the data, not the date," so if the league still doesn't feel like they have enough information by the middle of June to make a decision, one would imagine they wouldn't hesitate to put off the decision.

But for the first time since a positive test send the NBA into hibernation, we've got a timeline. That alone seems like legitimate cause for optimism."

https://www.nba.com/blazers/forward...ZYStlb21VN3kreFk5RnplNVRFZEFHS1k3TlByaEpmNSJ9

 

I think it’s very possible the rest of the full season and full playoffs is played because money.

 

The owners and players are united in their desire to get revenue.

Not that I fault them, me and my employer are doing the same.

If they play in a way that turns out to put anyone at significant risk or becomes as silly as HORSE shootouts the return will be a mistake.

Ultimately I think its still most likely they cancel the season and playoffs. I'm not sure they can even have a successful 2020-21 season at this point.

 

The thing with finishing out the season is that you could very well have back to back seasons with asterisks by them. Top scientists have already been saying there's a good chance come fall/winter the virus will come back and be even stronger.

 

If you’re a big fan of the asterisk thingy, then it’s already set that the 2020-21 will have one since the NBA isn’t planning on starting season until around Christmas anyway. Personally, asterisks don’t mean diddly to me. I just want to see games.

 

I think it depends on if there’s a major uptick in cases as the country starts to open up. If there isn’t, then it makes sense to try to finish this season before the second wave hits next fall. Otherwise, the league could be faced with not playing ball again until there’s a vaccine.

 

* competitive games.

 

If you get the virus, you will be “DNP-Covid19” and you’ll be quarantined. Just like any other kind of injury.

 

Man, we are in home isolation without any sports. Blowouts are just fine by me.

 

The NHL is in a similar position the NBA is in right now.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cb...n-for-24-team-playoff-format-report-says/amp/

NHL, NHLPA making progress on plan for 24-team playoff format, report says

I'm told the proposed 24-team format doesn't go straight to the playoffs but involves games in some form before-hand. That would be something the players would have pushed for. Again, let me stress that both sides on the committee as of Sunday morning still had work to do on the format so it may yet change again.

But there's a clear sense that both sides are closer on what a season resumption may look like.

Once the Return to Play committee finally agrees to a format (assuming it eventually does), the NHLPA's executive board (31 player reps) would need to vote on it for approval.

 

There is no evidence that Covid-19 causes long term health problems as far as I know.

 

I can't think of anything more long term than death.

 

Well, very few other than permanent damage to the heart, lungs, and kidneys, blood clotting, Kawasaki syndrome in kids, and, of course, death, which tends to be pretty permanent.

 

I'll grant you that one in this case.

Er, I mean...

* I'll grant you that one in this case.

 

Yes, who can forget all the quarantines for pulled hamstrings. "Sorry honey, I can't be there with you at our child's birth, I pulled a hammy."

 

COVID-19: Abnormal Clotting Common in More Severe Disease
Fever, fatigue, fear: For some recovering COVID-19 patients, weeks of illness, uncertainty
Mystery Inflammatory Syndrome In Kids And Teens Likely Linked To COVID-19

(Googling time: under 10 minutes)

 

I wonder what they will do for the players who have compromised immune systems. I saw Nance from Cleveland has already come out with his concerns, because of a preexisting health issue.