NBA Would Like To Teams To Play At Least 70 Games To Deliver On RSN Contracts

[RealGM Wiretap]

The NBA is not sure what will happen over the coming weeks, but they would ideally like to play at least 70 regular season games in order to retain 100 percent of the revenue the league receives from their regional sports network partners that air games in local markets.

"What they would love to do is to get to 70 games," said Brian Windhorst. "And the reason is it's 70 is a key number is because that is what the deliverable is to the regional sports networks. They are promised 70 games.

"Now, just because a team like the Lakers, for example, to get to 70 games... they wouldn't necessarily be able to deliver on that because they've had a lot of national games, but getting to 70 would be helpful in retaining revenue because they wouldn't have to refund some to the local TV."

Windhorst suggests the NBA could play an abbreviated regular season when an all-clear to resume games is given that will help fulfill that requirement and also serve as a way for teams to ramp back up before the playoffs begin.

"That's the concept they're working through right now," added Windhorst. 

Teams have all played approximately 65 games.

Via Brian Windhorst/ESPN

[Psubs]

It will also even out the total of games played by each team as some have played 63 and 64 games, not 65. It will act like a prep for the playoffs too. I would not mid if they made the playoff rounds best of 5 and the finals a 7 game series.

[pr0wler]

It will also even out the total of games played by each team as some have played 63 and 64 games, not 65. It will act like a prep for the playoffs too. I would not mid if they made the playoff rounds best of 5 and the finals a 7 game series.

They could definitely condense the first round to 5 games for sure.

They could also change all further rounds to 2-3-2 format rather than 2-2-1-1-1 to limit travel, exposure, and risk etc. Could limit to max 1 day off in between games rather than sometimes having 2-3 days in between games in normal playoff schedules.

[Buckeye-NBAFan]

It will also even out the total of games played by each team as some have played 63 and 64 games, not 65. It will act like a prep for the playoffs too. I would not mid if they made the playoff rounds best of 5 and the finals a 7 game series.

They could definitely condense the first round to 5 games for sure.

They could also change all further rounds to 2-3-2 format rather than 2-2-1-1-1 to limit travel, exposure, and risk etc. Could limit to max 1 day off in between games rather than sometimes having 2-3 days in between games in normal playoff schedules.

They'll be playing at neutral sites with no crowds in all likelihood if they restart in late june

[DoItALL9]

They should keep 7 game series for all four rounds but the 2-3-2 format is a great idea for the circumstances.

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[Clippers2020]

Playing 70 games works perfectly, just enough games to shake off the rust.

[DoItALL9]

I hope they do 82. They playoff races are interesting.

Plus, everyone playing 70 games would be a very limited preseason before the playoffs. Teams would be playing different amounts of games, anywhere from 3-7 I think

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