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The NBA season was set to restart on 30 July 2020 after a 4-month hiatus. The NBA's return-to-play plan included accommodating 22 teams in 3 of Disney World's best hotels. The playoffs were scheduled to start on 17 August, with a latest possible Finals date of 13 October.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of restart | 30th July 2020 |
| Number of teams playing | 22 |
| Number of games each | 8 |
| Playoffs start date | 17th August 2020 |
| Latest possible Finals date | 13th October 2020 |
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What You'll Learn
NBA restart in Disney World
The NBA restarted its 2019-2020 season, which was interrupted by the pandemic, at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, on July 30, 2020. The games were held without spectators and took place at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in the Arena, HP Field House, and Visa Athletic Center.
Twenty-two teams participated in the restart, including eight teams from each conference in current playoff positions and six teams within six games of the eighth seed in either conference. Some of the teams that took part in the Eastern Conference were the Milwaukee Bucks, Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, and Indiana Pacers. The Los Angeles Lakers, LA Clippers, Denver Nuggets, and Utah Jazz were some of the teams that represented the Western Conference.
The NBA's decision to restart the season at Walt Disney World Resort was a continuation of their long-standing relationship. The resort is home to the NBA Experience, a first-of-its-kind entertainment venue located at Disney Springs.
There was also a possibility that the NBA would paint 'Black Lives Matter' on the courts at Disney World for the season restart. This decision was made in light of the social justice movement that gained momentum following the death of George Floyd.
The restart provided an opportunity for players to make a significant impact, such as Zion Williamson of the Pelicans, who scored at least 20 points in 16 out of his first 19 career games. It also marked a potential turning point for teams like the Sacramento team, who were playing some of their best basketball before the suspension.
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22 teams, 3 hotels
The NBA season is starting again! The 2020-21 season tips off on Tuesday, December 22 at 7 p.m. ET on TNT. This season will see Hotels.com as the Official Travel Partner of the NBA. As part of the deal, Hotels.com will have brand integration on the top of the backboard for nationally televised games. This is a multiyear global partnership, with Hotels.com tipping off ahead of the 2020-21 season. Hotels.com is an Expedia Group company, and the partnership will allow them to engage with NBA fans and travellers through integrated marketing efforts.
Hotels.com will showcase why using their platform is the most rewarding way to book accommodations. They will also have the opportunity to participate in the partnership with other Expedia Group brands, including Expedia, Vrbo, and Travelocity. The NBA has a major international presence, with games and programming available in 215 countries and territories and merchandise available in 100 countries.
The NBA has not specified which 22 teams will be participating in the season or which 3 hotels will be involved. However, the NBA is a global sports and media business built around four professional sports leagues: the National Basketball Association, the Women's National Basketball Association, the NBA G League, and the NBA 2K League.
The NBA has a large social media presence, with 1.9 billion likes and followers globally across all league, team, and player platforms. Through NBA Cares, the league addresses important social issues by working with internationally recognized organizations that support education, youth and family development, and health-related causes.
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8 games each
The NBA season is well underway, with teams having played around 70 games by mid-March. This leaves 8 games each for the remainder of the season.
The New York Knicks (45-27) are set to visit the Milwaukee Bucks (40-32) in March. The Knicks have been struggling recently, going 5-5 in their last 10 games without Jalen Brunson, but they remain in third place in the East. The Bucks, meanwhile, have lost their last two games and are half a game behind Detroit for the fifth seed.
The Golden State Warriors (27-27) will take on the Houston Rockets (34-20) in a highly anticipated matchup before the All-Star Break in February. The Warriors have been on a roll since acquiring Jimmy Butler III, going 2-1 with Butler averaging 22 points, 6.7 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 1.7 steals in 31.7 minutes. Stephen Curry has also been on fire, with four consecutive games of 32-plus points and six-plus made threes. For the Rockets, rookie Quinten Post has been a standout performer, averaging 15.5 points and shooting an impressive 73.3% from the field.
The Knicks and Bucks game will feature key players returning from injuries. Giannis Antetokounmpo, the former Kia MVP, is expected to suit up for the Bucks after sitting out with a foot injury. The Knicks, on the other hand, have been dealing with injuries to their point guards, Jalen Brunson, and Miles McBride. It remains to be seen if either team can turn their recent fortunes around with these players back in the lineup.
With the season winding down and only 8 games left for each team, the pressure is on for those in playoff contention. The Eastern Conference has 6 teams with at least one key game to focus on, while the Western Conference has 8. These final games will determine the final standings and the matchups for the highly anticipated NBA playoffs.
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Playoffs start 17th August
The LCK Summer 2022 Playoffs in the Korean League of Legends kicked off on the 17th of August. The playoffs started on the 17th of August and concluded on the 28th of August with the finals. Ten teams competed in a round-robin group stage, with six teams making it to the playoffs. The winner of the LCK Summer split will directly qualify for Worlds 2022.
The NBA Playoffs typically begin in April. The first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs started on April 19th, with the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament taking place on April 15-18th. The SoFi Tournament features the Nos. 7-10 teams in each conference battling for the 7th and 8th playoff seeds.
The NBA Playoffs and the LCK Summer Playoffs are different competitions, with the former being an American professional basketball competition and the latter being a Korean League of Legends competition. The NBA Playoffs typically begin in April, while the LCK Summer Playoffs started on the 17th of August in 2022.
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Player safety during the pandemic
During the COVID-19 pandemic, basketball leagues and tournaments had to implement various safety measures to protect players and staff. One of the most prominent examples is the case of the Pete Petersen Basketball League, which, for the first time in its 66-year history, decided not to operate during the 2020-21 season due to the pandemic.
To ensure player safety, leagues that continued operations had to adapt to new protocols. For instance, players had to undergo regular COVID-19 testing, with some sources noting that they had to take nasal swab tests, while others mention saliva-based tests. In addition to testing, players were required to follow strict rules during their downtime, such as wearing masks at all times, frequent hand sanitization, and adhering to elevator etiquette, including limiting the number of people and refraining from talking.
Leagues also had to adapt their training and competition formats. Some leagues mandated outdoor-only practices and games, reducing the risk of virus transmission in indoor spaces. Additionally, leagues implemented physical distancing requirements, which impacted the number of games played per night and overall player registration. These adjustments were necessary to prioritize the health and safety of everyone involved.
The resumption of basketball during the pandemic also brought attention to the use of masks among players. While masks have traditionally been worn to protect against facial injuries, their importance grew during the pandemic as a way to curb the spread of respiratory droplets, especially in a sport that involves close proximity among players. Masks became a critical component of player safety, and their use was supported by health guidelines from organizations like the CDC.
Overall, the basketball community's response to the pandemic involved a combination of testing, strict safety protocols, format adjustments, and the adoption of protective equipment like masks. These measures were implemented to safeguard the well-being of players, staff, and all individuals involved in basketball operations during a challenging and unprecedented time.
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Frequently asked questions
The NBA season restarted on 30 July 2020 after a 4-month hiatus.
Only 22 teams will be playing the remaining games -- 9 from the East and 13 from the Western Conference.
The playoffs started on 17 August 2020, with a latest possible Finals date of 13 October 2020.
