OKC Thunder: NBA target July 31 to resume action

OKC Thunder fans can mark July 31st in their calendars as the NBA targets that date to resume action. Board of Governors will vote on format June 4.

As the week draws to a close the NBA is inching closer to a plan for resuming the 2019-20 campaign. While fans will have to wait until next week to learn format specifics the OKC Thunder will be in the mix regardless. OKC entered the hiatus seeded fifth in the West and at a minimum, all 16 playoff seeds will participate.

On Friday, NBA General Manager Adam Silver completed his calls with stakeholder groups via the Board of Governors meeting. The one definitive item announced was July 31st is the date earmarked for a resumption of games. Although the venue is yet to be announced, Walt Disney World in Orlando Florida is widely considered as the venue.

Silver conducted a similar conference call on Thursday with General Managers. In addition, ongoing calls occurring with the OKC Thunder captain Chris Paul (NBPA President), Michelle Roberts (NBPA Executive Director), and players/teams to ensure their perspective is gauged as well.

OKC Thunder is in the mix regardless of the format

Every team will have a preference depending on where they currently reside on the ladder. The Thunder will be playing regardless of the format since they are positioned in fifth in the West.

The four options on the table are:

Option one: Participants include the16 playoff seeds with teams jumping directly into the postseason segment of the 2019-20 campaign. Although this was the early favorite of stakeholders it has lost some momentum.

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Option two: 20 teams participate including the current 16 playoff seeds as well as the four Western Conference bubble teams. In this scenario, the group round-robin format would be implemented.

As noted in TI’s pros and cons column the bracket would feature four groups of five teams. Using the current standings the top 20 teams can be broken into four tiers and each bracket would include one team for every tier. The clubs would play twice against everyone in their bracket with the top two teams advancing into the second round. Again, as noted in our Friday column the semantics of how those teams would be comprised haven’t been determined.

Option three: 22 teams participate (16 playoff seeds and the six clubs within striking distance of the playoffs). The two additional teams are the Phoenix Suns and Washington Wizards.

This format would combine regular-season games plus a play-in tournament. The assumption is that teams would play games to reach a total of 72 or 76 for the season.  In this scenario, unless the Thunder fell from their current position of fifth to seventh they would not be involved in the play-in tournament.

Option four: all 30 teams return to play a 72 game season including a play-in tournament.

This coming Thursday, June 4th, the BOG will vote on the plan and format Adam Silver presents. The vote is more of a formality, as every indication is the BOG intend to pass whatever path Silver elects to take.