https://www.nba.com/article/2019/12/20/nba-proposes-78-game-season-among-changes

A breakdown of the changes:

IN-SEASON TOURNAMENT
The proposal calls for teams to play eight divisional games in the group stage of the event, which would begin Nov. 24, 2021 and continue through Dec. 11. (The NBA said the dates are tentative.) The group stage games - four home, four away - would count toward a team's regular-season total.

The six division winners and two wild cards would qualify for the quarterfinals on Dec. 13 and 14, 2021. Semifinals would be played as a doubleheader on Dec. 16 and the title game would be played two days later - with the semis and finals at a neutral site like Las Vegas. Players on the winning team would split $15 million; the winning coaching staff would split $1.5 million.

The NBA said that there is the potential for "additional prizing for players on the remaining final four teams" and that other incentives for teams and fans were "to be determined."

PLAY-IN TOURNAMENT
The regular season would end on a Saturday, one week before the start of the playoffs - as opposed to ending on Wednesday, as has been the case for years.

The top six teams in each conference would be in the playoffs.

The teams in seventh through 10th place in the regular-season standings would play off as follows: The seventh- and eighth-place teams would play with the winner clinching the No. 7 playoff seed. The teams holding the ninth- and 10th-place regular season spots would also play, and the winner of that game would play the loser of the 7-8 game to determine the No. 8 playoff seed.

From there, the first two rounds would be played as usual. Once the playoff field is down to four teams, those clubs would be reseeded based on regular-season record.

Tweet was deleted or there was problem with the URL:

https://twitter.com/TheSteinLine/status/1209516201828859906

martin wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:I like the idea of the play in games. The wildcard games in baseball are awesome. I think that would increase interest as well. I don't want a mid season tournament. There is no reason to have it. I wouldn't mind them doing away with the all star weekend either.

Feel like Americans don't really get to experience this as do other parts of the world in other sports. Could be interesting

Yeah, I think it's great and really glad the NBA is being so forward thinking on this.

I'm an avid European soccer fan nowadays and think the "Cup tournaments" are a great fun and add a new dimension to the season.

It's also a way for a smaller club or team that has less chance to win the league to get far.

I would like to see them get rid of the All-Star game, but I guess there's too much money in it.

I like the play-in concept as well for the playoffs as it's another anti-tanking mechanism.

have seeds 9-12 (8 teams) in each conference have their own playoffs for a secondary title.

reason is so fans can have a taste of playoffs even if their team can't win a title, allows gm's to evaluate coaches and players in a post season setting and allows owners to make more money.

i think this is a win win all around. and the winner of this secondary title also gets an extra draft pick at #15 (after the lottery picks).

arkrud wrote:

jazz74 wrote:a friend was talking about this a couple of years ago but an end of the year tournament for the teams missing the playoffs and the number one pick on the line. I said I wouldn't mind that IF it is for the number one pick and no lottery and the other teams record would determine the lottery positions.

Current proposal it to help mediocre team to get into playoff and bring some excitement to their fans.
Nobody cares about bad teams and what lotto balls they will get.

The Lotto tournament for 8 worst teams to get lottery positioning in reverse order of the place in this tourney will be great too.

well, it depends. I am pretty sure that people would have tuned in last year if the lakers were playing a tourney to get the chance to have zion and LeBron on the same team. also it would change the trade landscape with fewer teams dumping players.