NBA's 22-team plan to resurrect suspended season
Only the top 22 teams will resume the interrupted NBA season under a proposal expected to be voted on this week.
The NBA has been advancing a plan that would include the 16 teams currently holding play-off positions and six more teams within six games of the eighth seed in each conference, according to ESPN.
'HE DOESN’T CARE': NBA legend slams 'coward' Donald Trump
'PLAIN ANGRY': MJ speaks out amid George Floyd protests
Those teams include New Orleans, Portland, Australian guard Patty Mills' San Antonio, Sacramento and Boomers' centre Aron Baynes' improved Phoenix in the Western Conference and Washington in the East.
Ben Simmons' Philadelphia are sixth in the East while Joe Ingles' Utah Jazz sit safely in fourth in the West, while Matthew Dellavedova's Cleveland are last in the East and would not feature under this system.
With its season derailed by the coronavirus pandemic, the NBA is finalising a proposal to resume the season - which was paused on March 11 - in Orlando on July 31, according to ESPN.
The 22-team model is part of a proposal expected to be presented by commissioner Adam Silver to the league's board of governors on Thursday.
During a Board of Governors call last week, Silver and owners discussed a possible "play-in" round of the post-season to finalise the top eight seeds in each conference.
The traditional best-of-seven playoffs series format would follow with the NBA Finals to finish on October 12, almost a year after the season began.
However, ESPN reported Silver remains open to input and ideas on all aspects of the return-to-play plan.
Ben Simmons lashes 'cowardly' President Trump
Ben Simmons has taken a fresh swipe at American President Donald Trump over his handling of the civil unrest that's spread across the United States.
A week of sometimes violent protests have broken out across the US over the death of African-American man George Floyd - at the hands of a white police officer.
However, across America and many other parts of the world, peaceful rallies are being held in support of racial equality and to speak out against injustice.
One such peaceful demonstration took place at the White House where President Trump was condemned for the “shameful” use of the military to push back peaceful protesters.
President Trump's actions sparked another wave of backlash across America, prompting Simmons to tweet his dissatisfaction with the lack of leadership in the country.
“This is not what a leader looks like. His actions and cold words are cowardly. Do not allow these messages of hate and divide draw your attention away from the REAL goal of UNITY and EQUALITY which is achieved through LOVE and COMPASSION. I love y’all, stay safe [Peace symbol].
He added: “Let me be clear. I will ALWAYS fight for equality and unity. If you call yourself a fan of me but do not agree with EQUALITY and UNITY for everyone then I don’t want or need you in my corner.”
