The NBA continues to actively prepare for the resumption of the season in Orlando on the sidelines of the coronavirus outbreak. In the run-up to July 31st, the strategy of returning to competition is becoming clearer for North American basketball.
At a time when the United States continues to tear itself apart following the death of George Floyd, the NBA is actively working on a resumption of the season on the sidelines of the coronavirus.
Scheduled for July 31 following a vote by franchise owners and a positive opinion from the players, the return to competition will be accompanied by a strict health protocol and a tailor-made schedule for the 22 teams that will compete in Orlando.
Several friendlies planned
Negotiations are continuing to define the terms of the takeover but are reportedly making good progress, according to The Athletic. The American site highlights the first bets considered by the NBA. To limit the risk of injury, each franchise could play two or three preseason friendlies to get back on track.
In terms of atmosphere, the in camera matches could be played with a background sound created from the NBA2K game.
1,600 people in the Orlando bubble
In particular, the league has proposed that players limit the number of people on site to 1,600 after their scheduled arrival in early July. Each club delegation should not exceed 35 people, the players would have the right to receive the visit of three members of their family but only after the first round of the play-offs.
All should stay inside the bubble. And while Disney World will be open to the public in July, their area will be inaccessible and daily testing will be carried out on players or staff members of the teams involved. Isolation of at least seven days is provided for each person tested positive.
The calendar still under discussion
It remains to eliminate the last stumbling blocks between the NBA and the players. If the basketball players have validated the idea of a takeover, his schedule has yet to be confirmed. Each team would play eight regular season games before possible play-offs for the eighth qualifying spot and the play-offs that would be played as usual at the best of seven games until October 12th.
Problem, the start date of the next season, scheduled for December 1st, causes uncertainty. With a resumption of training around 10 November, some players would only benefit from a month’s rest and would first like to obtain guarantees. Negotiations, however, are not expected to prevent the NBA from resuming on July 31.
