data-mm-id=”_4zp6b5idv”>The pieces are falling into place for the NBA to hit their target date of July 31 to resume play. Adrian Wojnarowski has been reporting all week that the league is expected to pass a proposed plan to have 22 teams travel to Orlando. This plan would include a play-in tournament for the last seed in each conference. Wednesday is when the details of the plan started to leak. Shams Charania reported the exact format of the play-in, and Wojnarowski reported how many games will be played before the playoffs start. Here's how it will go down: The 16 playoff teams, along with the next six best teams by record (the Pelicans, Spurs, Trail Blazers, Kings, Suns, and Wizards) will play eight regular-season games that will serve to both determine seeding and give everyone some warm-up games before launching into playoff basketball. Then, if the eighth and ninth seed in each conference are within four games of each other, they will play a play-in tournament that is single-elimination for the ninth seed but double-elimination for the eighth seed. So the ninth seed would have to beat the eighth seed twice to earn a playoff berth, but the eighth seed would only need to win once to secure their spot. I, for one, am surprised the NBA decided to take the six best teams by record down to Orlando with the postseason teams rather than keeping all things equal and taking three from each conference. It's the best decision and will give us the war for the last seeds in the West that we were all looking forward to before the season was postponed. That decision also helps keep lottery complications to a minimum. Playing eight regular season games could, however, significantly alter the playoff picture. The Bucks are firmly cemented as the top seed in the East and wouldn't lose out on that unless they went 0-8, which seems unlikely. The Raptors, Celtics, and Heat are all within five games of each other. On the other side of the country, the Clippers are only five games behind the Lakers for the top seed, with the Jazz and Nuggets only a few games behind them for the second seed. Having a higher seed matters less this postseason because of the lack of homecourt advantage and the inability to recreate its effects in a neutral site with no fans. But the matchups could change wildly. Right now, the Celtics, for example, are set to face off with perhaps the most difficult team remaining in the field for them matchup-wise in Philadelphia. After eight games, Boston could move up to the second seed and be gifted the Brooklyn Nets (likely sans Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant). Or Philly could move up and Boston ends up with Indiana. Who ends up in the eighth seed is anyone's guess, but I would imagine LeBron James and Co. would prefer playing the bottom seed to having to go up against Luka Doncic and Dallas' dangerous offense if the Clippers overtake them. Given all teams are facing the same difficulties as far as getting back into a rhythm, things probably won't change to an extreme degree. But a lot will be riding on those eight games regardless, and the players know it. Even if it might not be pretty basketball, it will be hard-played basketball, and it will be a sight for sore eyes.
Related Posts
Marseille star Loic Remy has revealed he is not planning to leave the Ligue 1 club at the end of the season.
The 25-year-old has been strongly linked with a move away from the Stade Velodrome, with Tottenham and Arsenal reportedly interested in the striker.
Marseille are 19 points adrift of the last Champions League spot, but Remy said he is not thinking about leaving the club.
It would be disrespectful to look at (my) prospects for next year, when I m already at a club, he said.
My head is here, my pre-season will be here. Then we will see what follows; there are many things that come into play. It is too early to start talking; it s not at all in my head.
I still have three years remaining on my contract. Next year I will be here. For me it …
Lee Chung-Yong has returned to full training with Bolton after almost 10 months out due to a broken leg suffered in pre-season.
The 23-year-old South Korea international, who suffered the injury in a pre-season friendly against Newport, resumed full training with the Bolton squad at the club s Euxton ground on Monday.
Bolton manager Owen Coyle told the club s website it was a positive sign to see him back, but admitted he was not ready for a return to match action anytime soon.
It s one thing to start training and it s another thing to be fit and available for the games, but it s great to have Chungy back out on the grass with our group, Coyle said.
It s encouraging to see him have that smile again and hopefully he will give a lift and boost to our squ…
Prediction: Portugal win
Best Odds:
Bookmaker:
The international break is upon us as we gear up for the first set of fixtures at this level since the World Cup last winter. The primary focus will now be on UEFA Euro 2024, with the road to qualification beginning over the course of the next few days. Today, we ll take a look at a typical David vs Goliath encounter as Portugal prepare to lock horns with Liechtenstein in Group J at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.
Portugal
After falling to Morocco in a shocking turn of events at the World Cup, Portugal need to reassess ahead of these qualifiers. They genuinely have one of the most talented squads on the planet but continue to make the wrong moves, and speaking of, this is set to be the first competitive gam…
Real Madrid are hoping to sell Fabio Coentrao in this January transfer window, with Manchester City and Chelsea both being keen, that’s according to Talk Sport.
Coentrao arrived at the Bernabeu from Benfica back in 2011 for around £27 million and it is thought that the La Liga champions fought of interest from these two English Premier clubs to sign him, so are now hoping they are both still interested.
The 24-year-old has made just six league appearances this campaign and hasn’t really been able to shake of his price tag.
There has also been reports that he turned up late for training on New Years Day, something that is has not gone down well with Jose Mourinho at all.
Chelsea might be the more likely buyers for the Portuguese as their current numb…
Bruno Fornaroli scored against his old club as Perth Glory snapped a four-match winless streak with a comprehensive 3-0 away victory over Melbourne City on Friday.
Last season s premiers arrived at AAMI Park in last place but turned in a vintage performance against the A-League title contenders.
Fornaroli set the upset in motion in the 27th minute, the ex-City striker nodding past Dean Bouzanis after a deflected Juande shot looped high into the box.
Harrison Delbridge failed to deal with the Uruguayan on that occasion and the centre-back turned Gregory Wuthrich s attempt into his own net moments after the interval.
Erick Mombaerts men were stunned, and Perth made the points safe 19 minutes from the end when Tomislav Mrcela powered in a header from Neil K…
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer thinks Manchester United have little hope of challenging for the Premier League title next season, convinced such an achievement would be miraculous .
United can only finish as high as fifth this term after another underwhelming season in the post-Alex Ferguson era.
Their form picked up initially after Jose Mourinho was sacked and replaced by Solskjaer at the end of 2018, but since the Norwegian took charge permanently in March there has been a sharp downturn.
Any hope of Champions League qualification vanished with last week s lacklustre 1-1 draw at rock-bottom Huddersfield Town.
They could yet finish the season 32 points off the top of the table and Solskjaer is well aware of the job facing him.
I think I ve been quite hon…
Cagliari earned promotion back to the Serie A after confirming a top-two finish with a 3-0 win over Bari on Friday.
Cagliari, who were relegated from Italy s top-tier competition in 2014-15, needed just one season to recapture promotion.
Joao Pedro opened the scoring in the 24th minute at the Stadio Comunale San Nicola, silencing the home supporters with a well-taken finish from outside the area.
Fellow Brazilian Diego Farias doubled their advantage four minutes into the second half, before substitute Alberto Cerri confirmed the result with an emphatic finish three minutes from time.
The win saw Cagliari move 11 points ahead of third-place Trapani, with three games left in their season.
Cagliari can also claim the Serie B title if they win…
Everton keeper Joel Robles may have missed the decisive penalty against West Ham in the FA Cup, but he was outstanding during normal and extra time
Everton exited the FA Cup last night, losing their third round replay 9-8 on penalties against West Ham at the Boleyn Ground, after a 2-2 draw in normal and extra-time.
It was a pulsating game that could have gone either way, but in the end it was the Irons keeper Adrian who scored the winning penalty, after opposite number Joel Robles had smashed his spot-kick against the bar.
Brave
The visitors went down to ten men on 56 minutes, as winger Aiden McGeady was shown a red card for a second bookable offence.
The Republic of Ireland’s stars tackle was a silly one to pick-up his second booking of the g…
Eddie Howe has signed a new long-term contract with Newcastle United on the eve of their first Premier League game of the season against Nottingham Forest.
Howe was appointed as Magpies boss last November on a deal until 2024 following the sacking of Steve Bruce.
Newcastle s wealthy owners charged the former Bournemouth manager with the task of guiding the club out of the Premier League relegation zone to safety at the start of a new era following their takeover.
It was very much mission accomplished for the 44-year-old, as the Tyneside club surged up the table to finish last season in 11th place.
Howe was on Friday rewarded with a new deal as his side prepare to take on top-flight newcomers Forest at St James Park.
It s a great feeling to com…
Didier Deschamps has expressed concern about how the coach of the France women s team was ousted from power after a player revolt.
Three players, led by captain Wendie Renard, went public by stating they would not play on for Les Bleus under the then-existing regime.
The French Football Federation (FFF) elected to sack Diacre on March 9 after acknowledging her relationship with players had reached a point of no return which harms the interests of the national team .
It was a decision that ended a sometimes controversial reign, with the move coming ahead of France competing at this year s Women s World Cup, which takes place in July and August in Australia and New Zealand.
Deschamps has never faced such a situation, but he appears to have reservations abou…