Today, the league will resume action for the first time since the season was suspended in mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Under unforeseen circumstances, 22 teams will compete for the Larry O’Brien trophy after 8 “restart” games that have the feel of a star-studded AAU tourney. The atmosphere mirrors the uncertainty around each team: how will the time off affect contenders jockeying for position & upstarts (i.e. New Orleans) with little room for error?
Let’s take a look at the first few games of “Comeback” Weekend:
Matchups to Watch
• Clippers @ Lakers (7/30) - title favorites
• Grizzlies @ Blazers (7/31) - fight for final playoff spot
• Celtics @ Bucks (7/31) - ECF contenders
• Heat @ Nuggets (8/1) - dark horse contenders
• Pelicans @ Clippers (8/1) - Zion? v. Kawhi
• Bucks @ Rockets (8/2) - last two MVP winners
• Mavericks @ Suns (8/2) - Luka & KP v. Booker & Ayton
The “restart” will prove to be great theater - which favorite will emerge from the first weekend of games?