The NBA is currently on hold, with fans hoping that we can see more action at some point over the summer. Playoff basketball is the hope and what has happened with the NHL in recent days is a good sign for those hoping that the NBA will come back.
The break has given fans the chance to evaluate what has happened so far in the league, and here we take a look at that, as well as what may happen in the future.
Bucks Leading the East
The Milwaukee Bucks have the best record of anyone in the NBA and they lead the Eastern Conference with that. They are one of three teams in the East to have officially clinched already, alongside reigning champions the Toronto Raptors and the Boston Celtics.
The Bucks are joint favourites to land the NBA title this season and based on recent play, that is no surprise at all. Assuming the NBA resumes for the playoffs, expect to see plenty of people wagering on the Bucks to come back and win. For those looking to get involved, a list of free bets is available which can be used to place basketball wagers.
LA Dominates the West
Two teams stick out in the West and both are from LA. The Lakers lead the way and are the second joint favourite to win the NBA title this season, while the Clippers sit behind them. The Lakers are the only team that has officially clinched a playoff spot in the West, showing how dominant they have been over their conference this season.
The West is far more open than the East, with a long list of teams queueing up behind the LA franchises looking to get involved. These include the Nuggets, Jazz, Rockets and Thunder. If we do see some action over the summer, the Western Conference playoffs are set to be very exciting indeed.
Can the NBA Follow the NHL?
For those who don’t follow hockey, here are the key points to their resumption plan.
- The regular season is over, resumption is for the playoffs
- Playoffs increased from 16 to 24 teams to suit all contenders
- A ‘play-in’ round is played for the teams ranked 5-12
- Teams ranked 1-4 get a bye directly into the first round
- All games will be played in two ‘hub cities’ one in the east and one in the west
- No fans, and strictly limited team personnel will be allowed inside facilities
The NHL aim to start training camps no earlier than the start of July, which means the earliest resumption date is likely to be somewhere around the end of July.
For those hoping to piece together what the NBA may look like when it returns, this could be the kind of plan needed to get players back on the court.
Now the NHL have made their move, it is time for the NBA to show their plans to the world.
