NBA 2020-21: The NBA announced its national television schedule for the first three-game days of the 2020-21 season: an opening-night doubleheader on TNT on Tuesday, Dec. 22, one game each on TNT and ESPN on Wednesday, Dec. 23, and five Christmas Day games across ESPN and ABC on Friday, Dec. 25.
The league also decided to allow fans in at a 25-50% capacity after following all the safety protocols. With the season set to begin in December instead of January, the league will save up to $500 Million.
The NBA has faced huge financial losses in the past season due to Covid-19. With masks and Social Distancing protocols in effect, it is being planned to allow the fans under statewide regulations.
48 NBA players have tested positive for coronavirus out of 546 tested during initial testing phase from Nov. 24-30, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 2, 2020
NBA 2020-21 News: 3 things to expect in a Covid-19 pandemic struck season starting pre-Christmas
1. Injuries this season are just as scary a specter for a team’s chances as COVID-19
One exciting feeling in the league is that injuries to players will weigh just as heavily on organizations, or even more so than the fear of an outbreak of positive COVID-19 tests.
There is fear that coaches, executives, and players simply can’t control the spread of an invisible virus and the private-if-selfish actions of some of those team employees and players. That feels inevitable, the thinking goes, just as it has been across the country.
This year will be a year of complete unpredictability as much due to a possible crop of injuries as to COVID-19 issues.
2. It is impossible to control human nature outside of a bubble
During this offseason, several NBA players located in cities with strict restrictions have flown to NBA cities with few.
Bars, clubs, and restaurants are not closed everywhere, which is probably why 48 players tested positive between Nov. 24-30.
That will not be true during a regular season in the real world. Players will be expected to go out and take some time off after their matches or rigorous practice. Hence, it is possible that we find more players test positive for Covid-19.
3. Bench Management
It is worth retaining an eye on whether or not the league will offer up a quiet moratorium this year on punishing load management.
The NBA might ease up and we can expect to see teams benching stars as often as they can afford to do so.
It will also be an unmerciful perspective and needed the skill to know how to sit enough guys enough times to be healthy come to the playoffs, but not so many so often that you fall out of the top six and face your season ending in a game or two.
NBA News: Top headlines from the NBA opening night