The NBA released its format for the 2020-21 season on Tuesday, including the Board of Governors unanimously approving a proposal to have a playoff play-in tournament on a one-year basis.
In Orlando this summer, the NBA implemented a play-in series between the No. 8 and 9 seed under the condition that the No. 9 seed was within four games of the No. 8 at the conclusion of the regular season. For 2020-21, the play-in tournament will take place between the end of the regular season and the first round and will include teams in the Nos. 7-10 spots in each conference.
Another announcement of note included the NBA schedule being revealed in two segments. The first segment will be released around training camp (Dec. 11-19) and the second-half schedule will be released in the latter part of the first half portion of the schedule.
Key dates include the first half of the regular season (Dec. 22, 2020- March 4, 2021), All-Star break (March 5-10, 2021), the second half of the season (March 11-May 16, 2021), the play-in tournament (May 18-21) and the playoffs (May 22-July 22, 2021).
This story will be updated. More to come.