How Many Games Will There Be in the 2021 NBA Season?
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The 2021 NBA season is just around the corner, and basketball fans everywhere are wondering how many games there will be. The answer isn’t simple, as there are a number of factors that could affect the number of games played. However, we’ve put together a comprehensive guide that will give you the information you need to make an informed guess.
The NBA’s Current Situation
The NBA is in a bit of a pickle. The 2020 season was cut short due to the pandemic, and now the 2021 season is looking like it might be in jeopardy as well. With all of this uncertainty, how many games will there be in the 2021 season?
The NBA’s COVID-19 Protocols
The NBA has released its COVID-19 protocols for the upcoming 2020-21 season. The league is instituting a number of changes to try and prevent the spread of the virus, including daily testing, shorter turns, and bubbles.
All players will be tested daily for COVID-19 using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests. These tests will be administered by team doctors or at a designated testing site. Players who test positive will be isolated from the team and will not be allowed to return until they have recovered.
The NBA is also instituting a “turnaround” rule, which requires teams to have at least two days off between games. This is in an effort to prevent players from becoming too fatigued and increasing their risk of injury.
Finally, the league is considering creating “bubbles” for the upcoming season. This would involve grouping teams together in one or two locations and having them play their games there. This would help to limit travel and exposure to the virus.
The NBA’s COVID-19 protocols are ambitious, but it remains to be seen how well they will work in practice. The league is hoping that these measures will help to keep players safe and enable the season to be completed as scheduled.
The NBA’s TV Ratings
The NBA saw a significant decline in TV ratings during the 2019-2020 season. The regular season saw an average of 1.2 million viewers, which is down 19% from the previous season. The playoffs saw an even bigger decline, with an average of 979,000 viewers, which is down 28% from the previous year. These declines come after a few years of steady growth for the NBA.
There are a number of theories as to why the NBA’s TV ratings declined this past season. One theory is that there was more competition for viewers’ attention, as both the NFL and NHL saw increases in their TV ratings. Another theory is that the lack of star power hurt the NBA’s TV ratings, as both LeBron James and Kevin Durant missed significant time due to injury.
Whatever the reason for the decline in TV ratings, it is certainly a concern for the NBA. The league will be hoping that the 2021 season sees a return to growth.
The NBA’s 2021 Season
It’s no secret that the NBA’s 2020 season was one for the history books. With the COVID-19 pandemic putting a halt to the season, games were postponed and rescheduled willy-nilly. But now, with the 2021 season on the horizon, things are looking up. The question on everyone’s mind is: how many games will there be?
The NBA’s 2021 Schedule
The NBA has released its schedule for the 2021 season, which will tip off on December 22nd. The regular season will conclude on April 16th, and the playoffs will start on April 18th. The Finals will begin on July 8th.
The league has not yet released the schedule for the 2021 All-Star Game, which was originally scheduled to take place in Indianapolis on February 14th. It is unclear if that event will still take place, or if it will be rescheduled for a later date.
The NBA is planning to play a 72-game regular season in 2021, down from the usual 82 games. This shortened schedule is due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, which forced the league to suspend its 2019-20 season in March and play a truncated 2020 playoffs in August and September.
It is unclear at this time how many fans will be allowed to attend games next season. The NBA played its 2020 playoffs in front of limited capacity audiences at Disney World in Orlando, Florida, but it is unclear if that will be possible or allowed next year.
Stay tuned for more information about the NBA’s 2021 season as it becomes available.
The NBA’s 2021 Playoffs
The COVID-19 pandemic led to the NBA’s shortest season in history, with each team playing just 72 games instead of the usual 82. The playoffs were also different, with 16 teams instead of the usual 14 qualifying and the first two rounds being played in a best-of-seven format instead of the usual best-of-five.
The 2021 NBA season is scheduled to return to a normal schedule, with each team playing 82 games. The playoffs will also return to their usual format, with 14 teams qualifying and the first two rounds being played in a best-of-seven format.
The NBA’s Future
The NBA has been one of the most popular sports leagues in the world for decades now. But with the COVID-19 pandemic putting a halt to the 2019-2020 season, fans are wondering what the future of the NBA looks like. How many games will there be in the 2021 season? Will the league be able to bounce back? Let’s take a look.
The NBA’s Expansion Plans
The NBA has announced plans to expand the league to 36 teams, with the addition of new franchises in Seattle and Las Vegas. The league is also considering expansions to other cities, such as Kansas City, Louisville and Vancouver.
The expansion would increase the number of games played in the regular season, which would likely lead to a shorter season. The NBA has not announced how many games would be played in the expanded season, but it is expected that each team would play 82 games.
The expansion plans are still in the early stages, and it is unclear when the new franchises would begin play. It is also unclear if the expansions would occur in one fell swoop or over a period of years.
The NBA’s New TV Deals
The National Basketball Association has signed new television deals that will keep the league on ESPN and TNT through the 2024-2025 season. The nine-year agreements, which begin with the 2016-2017 season, are valued at a combined $24 billion.
ESPN will pay $1.4 billion per year for the right to air NBA games on its various television platforms, including ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2. TNT will pay $1.2 billion per year for the right to air NBA games on its various television platforms, including TNT, TBS, and truTV.
In addition to the rights fees paid by ESPN and TNT, the NBA will also receive approximately $100 million per year from ABC/ESPN and Turner Broadcasting for the right to sell advertising during NBA games broadcast on their respective networks.