The 2019-20 NBA season is likely to restart at some point within the next two months. Both the Association and the players are working hard behind the scenes to ensure that the ongoing global pandemic does not result in a lost season.
Once the campaign does resume, likely in Orlando, attention will turn from the stop in action to what we’re going to see on the court.
A potential new playoff format could lead to Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans earning a spot in the postseason. Could their presence impact the Houston Rockets? Back east, the Boston Celtics remain a major threat to the Bucks’ chances.
It’s in this that I give you five bold predictions for when the 2019-20 NBA season eventually returns.
New Orleans Pelicans make the playoffs
New Orleans entered the suspended portion of the season as the 10th seed in the Western Conference, 3.5 games behind the Memphis Grizzlies. If all things were created equal, star rookie Zion Williamson and Co. wouldn’t have much of a shot to make the playoffs with just 18 games remaining.
All things won’t be equal once the season resumes this summer. There’s a darn good chance that multiple teams will be playing for the final two spots in the playoffs. There’s also a good chance that conference seeding will be thrown out the window. If this is the case, New Orleans could very well earn a postseason bid. It posted a 21-13 record after starting 7-23. Williamson was playing out of his mind before the season was paused. We know the NBA would love to see New Orleans in the playoffs. Why not? It would be an absolute blast.
