With restrictions being lifted and fears being eased, a new semblance of normal is forming. COVID-19 was and still is a doozy, but that won’t keep us from postponing the beloved season of sports any longer.
We all went into a state of shock when the NBA announced that they’d be canceling this year’s season.
Fortunately, our feelings of hopelessness were revived when the long-awaited good news hit us.
As of July 31, the NBA will be returning to a television screen near you.
Though Florida has endured a fair amount of COVID-19 cases, Orlando will be hosting the highly anticipated game.
While we’ve established when and where the game will take place, there’s still confusion and trepidation surrounding how the format will unfold.
Not surprisingly, no one is sure how to broach this unprecedented situation. After all, we’ve never experienced anything like this.
Fortunately, everyone is so pumped for the return of basketball that they’re not terribly displeased with the odd series of events that will soon develop.
Following the suspension of the season, many have wondered what sports will look like in the future. The NBA is no exception. In the hopes of keeping morale high, experts have tossed numerous scenarios around.
In fact, it was all sports podcasts could talk about for weeks. Now that select teams will indeed be playing in just over a month, it’s time for these same enthusiasts to formulate a genuine plan.
Here are some creative approaches that they’ve come up with.
One idea that didn’t take players by storm was the prospect of going straight to the playoffs. This would involve 16 teams, which viewers said would take all the excitement out of watching the season. Another version of the format was inspired by the World Cup.
In this hypothetical, 20 teams would get to play. With more teams playing, there would be an increase in competition. NBA fans love nothing more than watching highly seasoned players duke it out for a sweet victory.
Unfortunately, both of these proposals missed the mark. Given how innovative the NBA usually is, countless people were dissatisfied with the suggestions they brought to the table.
However, there was one scheme that didn’t utterly unsettle NBA lovers.
Earlier in the season, there was talk of a mid-season tournament, which would include 78 games that you’d see in the regular season. That plan has been scrapped, and our hopes have gone with it.
In a world where the NBA can’t get it right, it’s shocking that the NHL can!
While the NHL has amassed a loyal fanbase, it’s considerably less popular than basketball. The format that the NHL has proposed may inspire some to swap allegiances.
Though their regular season is over, the NHL has announced that they’ll resume a tournament that consists of 24 games. To learn more about the specifics of this upcoming tournament, visit NHL.com.
The NBA has no doubt disappointed many, but some aren’t all that surprised by their inability to deliver. Some have even pointed out discrepancies in their existing format.
Even with a global pandemic plaguing the world, the NBA has managed to find itself in hot water.
Senseless anger aside, the NBA is doing their best to adjust to our brave new world.
If you fall into the category of upset and irritated, you’re far from alone.
I’m sure no one is entirely content with how the NBA seized this opportunity, but at least we don’t have to live much longer in a sportless world.
