The NBA is making progress on the road to a comeback. Now the players are also speaking out in favor of the new format – but some questions remain unanswered.
The professionals of the NBA have given their approval to the format for the continuation of the season.
This was announced by the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) after a meeting on Friday at which the board and players’ representatives voted on the league’s plan.
According to the plan, the season can be continued as hoped with 22 teams, starting July 31st at the Walt Disney grounds in Orlando.
However, as The Athletic reports, according to the NBPA, there are still some questions left unanswered. For example, there are still negotiations about how many people are actually allowed to be on the site, how often the corona virus should be tested and how to deal with positive results.
It is also not clear when the next season can begin. The NBPA had informed the players that December 1 was “unlikely” as the start date.
These teams fight for the playoffs
The 22 teams are made up as follows: 16 teams that were in the playoffs before the break on 11 March in the Eastern and Western Conference. In addition, there are six clubs with a maximum of six wins less than the eight-placed team in their conference.
So from the west the New Orleans Pelicans, the Phoenix Suns, the Portland Trail Blazers, the Sacramento Kings and the San Antonio Spurs are added, from the east only the Washington Wizards around the German national players Moritz Wagner and Isaac Bonga.
All the other German NBA professionals are also in on the action: Dennis Schröder (Oklahoma City Thunder), Isaiah Hartenstein (Houston Rockets), Maximilian Kleber (Dallas Mavericks) and Daniel Theis (Boston Celtics).