The NBA Returns With Something Called Seeding Games

So this is defiantly a topic I didn’t think I’d ever need to write about, but after 4 months of basically nothing happening on the court because of the coronavirus pandemic, the NBA announced earlier in the week their schedule for resuming the 2019-20 season.

No, this news was not like waking up on Christmas Day and finding a bunch of new digital gadgets that turn lights and air condition on throughout your house from thousands of miles away. Still, this was big news for the sports-starved fans who are simply looking for something live to watch on TV.

As you know by now, 22 teams are invited to show up and play in an NBA bubble at Walt Disney World. The teams are slated to play 8 games of what the NBA is calling seeding games. These seeding games have simply been put in place to provide teams a bit of runway heading into the playoffs and to determine the last couple of open spots in the playoffs.

Eastern Conference – Little Drama Here

Realistics everything in the Eastern Conference is settled related to making the playoffs. It is highly unlikely that the Washington Wizards will be able to overcome a 5.5 game deficit in 8 games. Still, lots of changes could occur related to seeding in the East.

The question of home-court advantage will not be a factor at all heading into the bubble, but matchups make a difference and it will be important for teams like the Celtics, Raptors, and Heat to remain in their current seeding positions. The Bucks essentially have the first seed secured at this point and will either have to deal with the Magic or Nets in the first round which should be a cake-walk.

Western Conference Is Intriguing

The Western Conference is far more intriguing than the Eastern Conference unless the current 8th seed Memphis Grizzlies go on an early winning streak. Heading into the bubble the Grizzlies are 3.5 games up on the rest of the Western Conference. The reality is it will be difficult for the Trailblazers, Pelicans, and Kings to overcome the 3.5 game deficit they find themselves with just 8 games to play. As for the Spurs and the Suns they basically have no chance of sneaking into the playoffs.

From a seeding perspective, the Western Conference is intriguing as their still lots to be resolved. Take the Denver Nuggets who currently hold the third seed but the Jazz, Thunder, and Rockets are within 2.5 games. The Lakers and Clippers basically have the first 2 seeds sealed up which means they will play Dallas or most likely the Grizzlies in the first round.

Brilliance of Adam Silver

The brilliance of commissioner Adam Silver shines through yet again as the NBA announced the first two games back will feature a doubleheader between the Jazz and Pelicans and the Clippers and Lakers on July 30th on TNT. This is a brilliant move by the NBA to feature and reintroduce Zion Williamson to the world as he missed the first 4 months of the regular season. As for a Lakers vs Clippers matchup – who doesn’t want to see LeBron vs Kawhi.

Clearly the NBA is going to try to make the best of an extremely bad situation. Between Covid-19 and the racial injustice issues, Silver and the NBA have navigated these issues in a way that is fair and equitable to everyone. By making it easy for players to opt-out of playing in the bubble without any significant financial impact the NBA has essentially taken the correct approach with its players.

Still, with the surge in coronavirus positive tests in Florida, there is a significant degree of unrest that the NBA will be able to pull off its bubble basketball playoff format.

According to the Associated Press. Silver told reporters that the state of the pandemic left the league with the belief that “no options are risk-free right now,” and “with no choice but to learn to live with this virus.”

“My ultimate conclusion is that we can’t outrun the virus, and that this is what we’re gonna be living with for the foreseeable future—which is why we designed the campus the way we did,” Silver said.

The bottom line is Silver is trying to make this work in a responsible way and while I hope the NBA is able to crown a champion this year, player safety is what matters the most.

Restart Schedule

Boston Celtics

vs. Milwaukee Bucks on Friday, July 31 (6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
vs. Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday, August 2 (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
vs. Miami Heat on Tuesday, August 4 (6:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
vs. Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday, August 5 (9:00 p.m. ET, ESPN)
vs. Toronto Raptors on Friday, August 7 (9:00 p.m. ET, TNT)
vs. Orlando Magic on Sunday, August 9 (5:00 p.m. ET)
vs. Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday, August 11 (6:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
vs. Washington Wizards on Thursday, August 13 (TBD, TBD)

Brooklyn Nets

vs. Orlando Magic on Friday, July 31 (2:30 p.m. ET)
vs. Washington Wizards on Sunday, August 2 (2:00 p.m. ET)
vs. Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday, August 4 (1:30 p.m. ET, NBA TV)
vs. Boston Celtics on Wednesday, August 5 (9:00 p.m. ET, ESPN)
vs. Sacramento Kings on Friday, August 7 (5:00 p.m. ET)
vs. LA Clippers on Sunday, August 9 (9:00 p.m. ET, NBA TV)
vs. Orlando Magic on Tuesday, August 11 (1:00 p.m. ET)
vs. Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday, August 13 (TBD, TBD)

Dallas Mavericks

vs. Houston Rockets on Friday, July 31 (9:00 p.m. ET, ESPN)
vs. Phoenix Suns on Sunday, August 2 (9:00 p.m. ET)
vs. Sacramento Kings on Tuesday, August 4 (2:30 p.m. ET)
vs. LA Clippers on Thursday, August 6 (6:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
vs. Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday, August 8 (8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
vs. Utah Jazz on Monday, August 10 (3:00 p.m. ET, NBA TV)
vs. Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday, August 11 (5:00 p.m. ET)
vs. Phoenix Suns on Thursday, August 13 (TBD, TBD)

Denver Nuggets

vs. Miami Heat on Saturday, August 1 (1:00 p.m. ET, ESPN)
vs. Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday, August 3 (4:00 p.m. ET, NBA TV)
vs. San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday, August 5 (4:00 p.m. ET)
vs. Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday, August 6 (8:00 p.m. ET)
vs. Utah Jazz on Saturday, August 8 (3:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
vs. Los Angeles Lakers on Monday, August 10 (9:00 p.m. ET, TNT)
vs. LA Clippers on Wednesday, August 12 (9:00 p.m. ET, ESPN)
vs. Toronto Raptors on Friday, August 14 (TBD, TBD)

Houston Rockets

vs. Dallas Mavericks on Friday, July 31 (9:00 p.m. ET, ESPN)
vs. Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday, August 2 (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
vs. Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday, August 4 (9:00 p.m. ET, TNT)
vs. Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday, August 6 (9:00 p.m. ET, TNT)
vs. Sacramento Kings on Sunday, August 9 (8:00 p.m. ET)
vs. San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday, August 11 (2:00 p.m. ET, NBA TV)
vs. Indiana Pacers on Wednesday, August 12 (4:00 p.m. ET, NBA TV)
vs. Philadelphia 76ers on Friday, August 14 (TBD, TBD)

Indiana Pacers

vs. Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday, August 1 (7:00 p.m. ET)
vs. Washington Wizards on Monday, August 3 (4:00 p.m. ET)
vs. Orlando Magic on Tuesday, August 4 (6:00 p.m. ET)
vs. Phoenix Suns on Thursday, August 6 (4:00 p.m. ET)
vs. Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday, August 8 (6:00 p.m. ET, TNT)
vs. Miami Heat on Monday, August 10 (8:00 p.m. ET)
vs. Houston Rockets on Wednesday, August 12 (4:00 p.m. ET, NBA TV)
vs. Miami Heat on Friday, August 14 (TBD, TBD)

LA Clippers

vs. Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday, July 30 (9:00 p.m. ET, TNT)
vs. New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday, August 1 (6:00 p.m. ET, ESPN)
vs. Phoenix Suns on Tuesday, August 4 (4:00 p.m. ET, NBA TV)
vs. Dallas Mavericks on Thursday, August 6 (6:30 ET, TNT)
vs. Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday, August 8 (1:00 p.m. ET, TNT)
vs. Brooklyn Nets on Sunday, August 9 (9:00 p.m. ET, NBA TV)
vs. Denver Nuggets on Wednesday, August 12 (9:00 p.m. ET, ESPN)
vs. Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday, August 14 (TBD, TBD)

Los Angeles Lakers

vs. LA Clippers on Thursday, July 30 (9:00 p.m. ET, TNT)
vs. Toronto Raptors on Saturday, August 1 (8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
vs. Utah Jazz on Monday, August 3 (9:00 p.m. ET, ESPN)
vs. Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday, August 5 (6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
vs. Houston Rockets on Thursday, August 6 (9:00 p.m. ET, TNT)
vs. Indiana Pacers on Saturday, August 8 (6:00 p.m. ET, TNT)
vs. Denver Nuggets on Monday, August 10 (9:00 p.m. ET, TNT)
vs. Sacramento Kings on Thursday, August 13 (TBD, TBD)

Memphis Grizzlies

vs. Portland Trail Blazers on Friday, July 31 (4:00 p.m. ET, NBA TV)
vs. San Antonio Spurs on Sunday, August 2 (4:00 p.m. ET)
vs. New Orleans Pelicans on Monday, August 3 (6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
vs. Utah Jazz on Wednesday, August 5 (2:30 p.m. ET)
vs. Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday, August 7 (4:00 p.m. ET, NBA TV)
vs. Toronto Raptors on Sunday, August 9 (2:00 p.m. ET)
vs. Boston Celtics on Tuesday, August 11 (6:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
vs. Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday, August 13 (TBD, TBD)

Miami Heat

vs. Denver Nuggets on Saturday, August 1 (1:00 p.m. ET, ESPN)
vs. Toronto Raptors on Monday, August 3 (1:30 p.m. ET, NBA TV)
vs. Boston Celtics on Tuesday, August 4 (6:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
vs. Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday, August 6 (4:00 p.m. ET, TNT)
vs. Phoenix Suns on Saturday, August 8 (7:30 p.m. ET)
vs. Indiana Pacers on Monday, August 10 (8:00 p.m. ET)
vs. Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday, August 12 (8:00 p.m. ET)
vs. Indiana Pacers on Friday, August 14 (TBD, TBD)

Milwaukee Bucks

vs. Boston Celtics on Friday, July 31 (6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
vs. Houston Rockets on Sunday, August 2 (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
vs. Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday, August 4 (1:30 p.m. ET, NBA TV)
vs. Miami Heat on Thursday, August 6 (4:00 p.m. ET, TNT)
vs. Dallas Mavericks on Saturday, August 8 (8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
vs. Toronto Raptors on Monday, August 10 (6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
vs. Washington Wizards on Tuesday, August 11 (9:00 p.m. ET)
vs. Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday, August 13 (TBD, TBD)

New Orleans Pelicans

vs. Utah Jazz on Thursday, July 30 (6:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
vs. LA Clippers on Saturday, August 1 (6:00 p.m. ET, ESPN)
vs. Memphis Grizzlies on Monday, August 3 (6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
vs. Sacramento Kings on Thursday, August 6 (1:30 p.m. ET, NBA TV)
vs. Washington Wizards on Friday, August 7 (8:00 p.m. ET)
vs. San Antonio Spurs on Sunday, August 9 (3:00 p.m. ET, ABC)
vs. Sacramento Kings on Tuesday, August 11 (9:00 p.m. ET, TNT)
vs. Orlando Magic on Thursday, August 13 (TBD, TBD)

Oklahoma City Thunder

vs. Utah Jazz on Saturday, August 1 (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
vs. Denver Nuggets on Monday, August 3 (4:00 p.m. ET, NBA TV)
vs. Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday, August 5 (6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
vs. Memphis Grizzlies on Friday, August 7 (4:00 p.m. ET, NBA TV)
vs. Washington Wizards on Sunday, August 9 (12:30 p.m. ET)
vs. Phoenix Suns on Monday, August 10 (2:30 p.m. ET)
vs. Miami Heat on Wednesday, August 12 (8:00 p.m. ET)
vs. LA Clippers on Friday, August 14 (TBD, TBD)

Orlando Magic

vs. Brooklyn Nets on Friday, July 31 (2:30 p.m. ET)
vs. Sacramento Kings on Sunday, August 2 (6:00 p.m. ET)
vs. Indiana Pacers on Tuesday, August 4 (6:00 p.m. ET)
vs. Toronto Raptors on Wednesday, August 5 (8:00 p.m. ET)
vs. Philadelphia 76ers on Friday, August 7 (6:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
vs. Boston Celtics on Sunday, August 9 (5:00 p.m. ET)
vs. Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday, August 11 (1:00 p.m. ET)
vs. New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday, August 13 (TBD, TBD)

Philadelphia 76ers

vs. Indiana Pacers on Saturday, August 1 (7:00 p.m. ET)
vs. San Antonio Spurs on Monday, August 3 (8:00 p.m. ET)
vs. Washington Wizards on Wednesday, August 5 (4:00 p.m. ET, NBA TV)
vs. Orlando Magic on Friday, August 7 (6:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
vs. Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday, August 9 (6:30 p.m. ET, NBA TV)
vs. Phoenix Suns on Tuesday, August 11 (4:30 p.m. ET)
vs. Toronto Raptors on Wednesday, August 12 (6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
vs. Houston Rockets on Friday, August 14 (TBD, TBD)

Phoenix Suns

vs. Washington Wizards on Friday, July 31 (4:00 p.m. ET)
vs. Dallas Mavericks on Sunday, August 2 (9:00 p.m. ET)
vs. LA Clippers on Tuesday, August 4 (4:00 p.m. ET, NBA TV)
vs. Indiana Pacers on Thursday, August 6 (4:00 p.m. ET)
vs. Miami Heat on Saturday, August 8 (7:30 p.m. ET)
vs. Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday, August 10 (2:30 p.m. ET)
vs. Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday, August 11 (4:30 p.m. ET)
vs. Dallas Mavericks on Thursday, August 13 (TBD, TBD)

Portland Trail Blazers

vs. Memphis Grizzlies on Friday, July 31 (4:00 p.m. ET, NBA TV)
vs. Boston Celtics on Sunday, August 2 (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
vs. Houston Rockets on Tuesday, August 4 (9:00 p.m. ET, TNT)
vs. Denver Nuggets on Thursday, August 6 (8:00 p.m. ET)
vs. LA Clippers on Saturday, August 8 (1:00 p.m. ET, TNT)
vs. Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday, August 9 (6:30 p.m. ET, NBA TV)
vs. Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday, August 11 (5:00 p.m. ET)
vs. Brooklyn Nets on Thursday, August 13 (TBD, TBD)

Sacramento Kings

vs. San Antonio Spurs on Friday, July 31 (8:00 p.m. ET)
vs. Orlando Magic on Sunday, August 2 (6:00 p.m. ET)
vs. Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday, August 4 (2:30 p.m. ET)
vs. New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday, August 6 (1:30 p.m. ET, NBA TV)
vs. Brooklyn Nets on Friday, August 7 (5:00 p.m. ET)
vs. Houston Rockets on Sunday, August 9 (8:00 p.m. ET)
vs. New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday, August 11 (9:00 p.m. ET, TNT)
vs. Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday, August 13 (TBD, TBD)

San Antonio Spurs

vs. Sacramento Kings on Friday, July 31 (8:00 p.m. ET)
vs. Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday, August 2 (4:00 p.m. ET)
vs. Philadelphia 76ers on Monday, August 3 (8:00 p.m. ET)
vs. Denver Nuggets on Wednesday, August 5 (4:00 p.m. ET)
vs. Utah Jazz on Friday, August 7 (1:00 p.m. ET)
vs. New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday, August 9 (3:00 p.m. ET, ABC)
vs. Houston Rockets on Tuesday, August 11 (2:00 p.m. ET, NBA TV)
vs. Utah Jazz on Thursday, August 13 (TBD, TBD)

Toronto Raptors

vs. Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday, August 1 (8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
vs. Miami Heat on Monday, August 3 (1:30 p.m. ET, NBA TV)
vs. Orlando Magic on Wednesday, August 5 (8:00 p.m. ET)
vs. Boston Celtics on Friday, August 7 (9:00 p.m. ET, TNT)
vs. Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday, August 9 (2:00 p.m. ET)
vs. Milwaukee Bucks on Monday, August 10 (6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
vs. Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday, August 12 (6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
vs. Denver Nuggets on Friday, August 14 (TBD, TBD)

Utah Jazz

vs. New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday, July 30 (6:30 ET, TNT)
vs. Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday, August 1 (3:30 ET, ESPN)
vs. Los Angeles Lakers on Monday, August 3 (9:00 p.m. ET, ESPN)
vs. Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday, August 5 (2:30 p.m. ET)
vs. San Antonio Spurs on Friday, August 7 (1:00 p.m. ET)
vs. Denver Nuggets on Saturday, August 8 (3:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
vs. Dallas Mavericks on Monday, August 10 (3:00 p.m. ET, NBA TV)
vs. San Antonio Spurs on Thursday, August 13 (TBD, TBD)

Washington Wizards

vs. Phoenix Suns on Friday, July 31 (4:00 p.m. ET)
vs. Brooklyn Nets on Sunday, August 2 (2:00 p.m. ET)
vs. Indiana Pacers on Monday, August 3 (4:00 p.m. ET)
vs. Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday, August 5 (4:00 p.m. ET, NBA TV)
vs. New Orleans Pelicans on Friday, August 7 (8:00 p.m. ET)
vs. Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday, August 9 (12:30 p.m. ET)
vs. Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday, August 11 (9:00 p.m. ET)
vs. Boston Celtics on Thursday, August 13 (TBD, TBD)