Page 21 - ARUBA TODAY

A21
SPORTS Saturday 21 december 2019

NBA sends teams

proposal for 78-game

season, other changes

By TIM REYNOLDS "It would need to be ne-
AP Basketball Writer gotiated with the Players
MIAMI (AP) — The NBA has Association," Silver said ear-
sent a proposal to teams lier this year. "I've had very
calling for a 78-game regu- general discussions with
lar season, along with an in- (union executive director)
season tournament for all Michele Roberts about the
teams and a reseeding of notion that these are the
the playoffs when the field kinds of things we're look-
is cut to the final four clubs. ing at. I think she, of course,
A copy of the proposal was is supportive of looking at
obtained by The Associ- any ideas we have to build
ated Press on Friday. The the business over time."
plan laid out for teams calls ESPN and The Athletic first
for a play-in tournament to reported on the contents
decide the seventh and of the proposal. In this Oct. 8, 2019, file photo, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver speaks at a news conference
eighth seeds in both con- The NBA told teams that before an NBA preseason basketball game between the Houston Rockets and the Toronto Raptors
in Saitama, Japan.
ferences — the top 10 fin- a study it commissioned Associated Press
ishers in both the East and through a third-party
West would therefore have company earlier this year changes: at a neutral site like Las Ve- The teams in seventh
a chance at the playoffs — showed that 60% of NBA IN-SEASON TOURNAMENT gas. Players on the winning through 10th place in the
as well as a $1 million per fans want a shorter regu- The proposal calls for teams team would split $15 mil- regular-season standings
player prize for the in-sea- lar season, that 68% of fans to play eight divisional lion; the winning coaching would play off as follows:
son tournament. said they are interested in games in the group stage staff would split $1.5 million. The seventh- and eighth-
The league would make an in-season tournament of the event, which would The NBA said that there is place teams would play
the changes for the 2021-22 and 75% were interested in begin Nov. 24, 2021 and the potential for "additional with the winner clinching
season on a trial basis, with a play-in tournament to de- continue through Dec. 11. prizing for players on the the No. 7 playoff seed. The
an option to continue the cide the playoff field. (The NBA said the dates remaining final four teams" teams holding the ninth-
next season. The league's The same study, the NBA are tentative.) The group and that other incentives and 10th-place regular
board of governors is ex- said, found fans liked the stage games — four home, for teams and fans were "to season spots would also
pected to discuss and idea of reseeding the final four away — would count be determined." play, and the winner of
likely decide whether to four playoff teams — even toward a team's regular- PLAY-IN TOURNAMENT that game would play the
go forward or not with the though that would open season total. The regular season would loser of the 7-8 game to
plan in April. The notion of the door to the potential of The six division winners and end on a Saturday, one determine the No. 8 playoff
adding a in-season tourna- the NBA Finals going on be- two wild cards would qual- week before the start of seed.
ment has been something tween two teams from the ify for the quarterfinals on the playoffs — as opposed From there, the first two
Commissioner Adam Sil- same conference. Dec. 13 and 14, 2021. Semi- to ending on Wednesday, rounds would be played
ver has talked about since The NBA told teams that finals would be played as a as has been the case for as usual. Once the playoff
at least 2016, drawing the "fans feel it would make the doubleheader on Dec. 16 years. field is down to four teams,
parallel to how such events final two rounds more desir- and the title game would The top six teams in each those clubs would be re-
are customary in European able to watch." be played two days later conference would be in seeded based on regular-
soccer. A breakdown of the — with the semis and finals the playoffs. season record.q

Antetokounmpo

Continued from Page 17 fell to 24-5 largely because 20-7 run. Davis and James The Bucks improved to 3-0 missed his 17th straight
their bench was outscored combined to shoot 6 for against the two teams from game with a right shoulder
“I wasn’t supposed to be 34-4 by the Bucks’ reserves. 20 in the first half, and the Los Angeles, including a impingement. Dinwiddie
here. I wasn’t supposed to George Hill had 21 points Lakers had 10 turnovers. dominant 119-91 win over tried to cover by shoot-
go up against these two off the bench for Milwau- The Bucks led 65-46 at the the Clippers at home on ing 14 of 29 from the field,
beasts. So I’m just happy kee. break. Dec. 6. eclipsing his career high by
that I’m here and happy The last time two teams that Los Angeles outscored Mil- SPURS 118, NETS 105 two points.
that I’m going through the were 20 games over .500 waukee 68-46 in the sec- SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Pat- JAZZ 111, HAWKS 106
process and I always want played each other before ond half to close the gap. ty Mills had 27 points and ATLANTA (AP) — Donovan
to be better, do better for Jan. 1 was 1980. The Boston The Lakers now head home San Antonio overcame a Mitchell scored two of his
my team and that’s what Celtics (28-8) played the after ending a five-game career-high 41 points from 30 points on a tricky base-
gives me joy.” Suns (32-8) in Phoenix. Bos- trip. Spencer Dinwiddie to beat line drive that put Utah
James had 21 points, 12 ton won 116-97. “We continue to build Brooklyn. ahead for good.
rebounds and 11 assists for “No matter what team we chemistry, we continue Mills had 21 points in the Mitchell faked a pass from
his seventh triple-double of play,” Hill said, “we come to build camaraderie,” second half, shooting 5 for under the basket before
the season, and Davis had in with the same mentality James said. “Pretty much 8 on 3-pointers as the Spurs slamming the breaks and
36 points and 10 rebounds. to get better that night on every time anyone does rallied from a 14-point defi- connecting from beneath
“You tip your hat off to him both ends of the floor, and anything, we pretty much cit to beat the Nets for the the backboard with 3:47
and we move forward,” it just happened to be the do it together on the road. 17th straight home game. left.
Davis said of Antetok- Lakers tonight.” Just kind of have that bun- LaMarcus Aldridge added That made it 101-99, and
ounmpo. Milwaukee led by six af- ker mentality, that broth- 20 points and 10 rebounds he cemented the win with
The Lakers dropped their ter the first quarter then erhood when we hit the for San Antonio. two free throws with 13 sec-
second straight game and opened the second with a road.” Brooklyn’s Kyrie Irving onds left.q