The National Basketball Association has made strides in their quest to restart the 2019-2020 NBA Season. A huge meeting takes place this Thursday on June 4. Check out an update on where the league is at and what the parties involved will discuss on Thursday along with some updated NBA Odds.

NBA Update – June 1^st Edition

2020 NBA Championship

• When: TBD
• Where: TBD

2020 NBA Championship Odds

• Los Angeles Lakers +200
• Milwaukee Bucks +225
• A. Clippers +300
• Houston Rockets +1500
• Boston Celtics +1500
• Toronto Raptors +1600
• Denver Nuggets +2000
• Philadelphia 76ers +2800
• Utah Jazz +3300
• Miami Heat +2800
• Dallas Mavericks +3500
• Indiana Pacers +8000
• New Orleans Pelicans +10000
• Portland Trail Blazers +2000
• Oklahoma City Thunder +10000
• Memphis Grizzlies +50000
• Brooklyn Nets +50000
• Orlando Magic +50000
• San Antonio Spurs +50000
• Phoenix Suns +100000
• Sacramento Kings +100000

Three possible return to play scenarios

The NBA has three return to play scenarios. Let’s go through each one!

Scenario #1: Traditional 16-team Playoff Format

The GM preferred scenario involves the 16-teams on their way to the playoffs before the shutdown.

In the Eastern Conference, the 8 teams are the Milwaukee Bucks, Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, Indiana Pacers, Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets, and Orlando Magic.

From the Western Conference, the 8 teams are the Los Angeles Lakers, L.A. Clippers, Denver Nuggets, Utah Jazz, Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks, and Memphis Grizzlies.

Although general managers prefer this plan by a wide margin, it’s chances of passing the smell test with players won’t happen.

Word has it, players much prefer one of the other two plans.

Scenario #2: 20-Team Playoff

Scenario 2 would include 4 teams within 6 games of the final playoff spots in each conference.

Those 4 teams are all Western Conference squads. They include the San Antonio Spurs, New Orleans Pelicans, Portland Trail Blazers, and Sacramento Kings.

This plan remains on the table. But it will likely get tossed in favor of Scenario #3.

Scenario #3 – 22-Team Playoff

Scenario #3 is just like Scenario #2 with a couple of teams added to the mix.

The lone Eastern Conference squad are the Washington Wizards. The NBA has decided that you must be within 6 games of the final playoff spot. That’s the Wizards from the East.

In the West, that team is the Phoenix Suns.

This is the most likely playoffs scenario that the league adopts on Thursday. The reason? It includes the most possible teams.

National Basketball Association games to be played at Disney World

There’s no debate on where the NBA will play games. The league will bring 22-teams, or 20 if that scenario passes, to ESPN Wide World of Sports in July.

The facility rests in the most highly visited tourist destination on the planet, Orlando, Florida. Disney World has enough basketball courts to run games on a daily basis.

Not only that but a main sticking point for players includes bringing their families. Orlando has plenty of hotels.

There are some problems. Orlando hasn’t been immune to the looting and rioting in the U.S. Will Orlando look the same after rioting ceases?

Also, the league has yet to devise a plan that involves testing players and their families. Finally, some players are hesitant to return to the court.

All players insist that if they do return to the court, they want to play as many regular season games as possible.

This makes sense because even though NBA training facilities opened last week, players must get into competition shape before any postseason happens.

NBA is on its way back

The National Basketball Association is on the way back. Thursday’s meeting will give us more clarity.

Adam Silver has proven to be the most player conscientious commissioner in league history. He has a great rapport with Chris Paul, the players lead representative.

Expect a real plan to come out of this Thursday’s meeting. Once that happens, we should start sharpening our basketball handicapping skills by wagering on a few NBA2K games.

Then, we can put a smile on our faces and get ready for the return of one of America’s most important sports leagues.