03-14-2020, 02:58 AM
(03-13-2020, 07:13 PM)Mavs2019 Wrote: Wonder what will happen here. Could they hold the draft before the play-offs? Use the current standings for draft order and play-off seeding. Given the separation between the 8th and 9th seed in each conference, there can´t be any complaints. Even if you allow for the games to even out at 67 (theoretically) Memphis and Orlando/Brooklyn would still retain their positions.
I tend to agree. The key to revenues is getting the post-season played. So, think of any regular season games played from here as a means to that end. Thirty days from now all dates that were on the schedule will be gone and a new schedule will have to be made up from scratch. It will likely be a very limited schedule to basically get teams ready for the playoffs...almost like pre-season
So, do you count those games? Are they exhibition games?
1. It creates an unbalanced schedule, which isn't any more fair that simply cutting things off as of 3/11.
2. It doesn't change who qualifies for the playoffs (only seeding and draft order)
3. Teams who are going home as soon as these playoff-prep games are over have almost zero incentive to play hard.
To me, they should just freeze things where they are (self-serving from a Mav's draft perspective), play 3-5 exhibition games and get into whatever playoff format they come up with. They'll go past the typical season-end date in June to get as many playoff games in as they can. But, there is some date out there that is too far and interferes too much with the next season. They will shorten series to best of five if they have to or something even more creative. But, the focus will absolutely be on the playoffs and not the regular season.