The NBA is reportedly exploring alternative playoff formats, including a first round group stage. Also: the NHL has officially called off the remainder of its regular season; IndyCar will start its season on NBC in primetime; and more.
NBA exploring alternative playoff formats
The NBA is exploring alternative playoff formats for this season, including seeding teams regardless of conference or replacing the first round with a World Cup-style group stage, per multiple reports. Under the latter format, first reported by The Ringer, the playoff field would expand to 20 teams divided into four five-team groups, with each team playing an eight-game round robin. The top two finishers in each group — eight teams total — would then advance to a traditional best-of-seven.
News of the proposed formats follows the NBA’s official announcement Saturday that it is in “exploratory” discussions with Disney about restarting its season at Orlando’s Walt Disney World in late July. The announcement marked the first time since play was halted on March 11 that the league publicly offered a specific scenario for its return.
According to The Bill Simmons Podcast, the NBA is “aiming for” a July 25 start to the playoffs and a September 20 conclusion to the NBA Finals. [The Ringer 5.26, The Big Lead 5.26, ESPN.com 5.26]
NHL officially ditching remainder of regular season
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman officially announced Monday that the league will abandon the remainder of its regular season and skip to an expanded 24-team playoffs if and when play resumes at a still-undetermined date. Appearing on NBCSN, Bettman said the postseason will be conducted in two ‘hub cities’ — one for the East and one for the West — with a slight chance that the conference finals and Stanley Cup Final could be held in teams’ home arenas.
With the playoff field now set, Bettman also announced that the NHL Draft Lottery has been rescheduled for June 26. [NHL.com 5.26]
IndyCar opener moved up to NBC
The June 6 IndyCar season opener at Texas has been moved up from NBCSN to the NBC broadcast network, it was announced Sunday. The race will remain in its 8 PM ET timeslot, becoming just the second IndyCar telecast to air on primetime network television. The other was Texas on ABC in 2013.
NBC is also scheduled to carry the July 4 Grand Prix of Indianapolis and the August 23 Indianapolis 500, but IndyCar has yet to announce broadcast assignments for the other races on its revised schedule. [NBC Sports PR 5.24]
Plus: CFB, Dufresne, ESPY hosts, XFL
The FBS conferences and their broadcast partners — CBS, FOX and ESPN — announced Tuesday that they are pushing back the usual deadline for determining early season college football kickoff times. Those decisions were supposed to be made June 1. … Former Los Angeles Times sportswriter Chris Dufresne passed away on Monday at age 62. Dufresne worked for the Times from 1976 through 2015 before co-founding The Media Guides, a college sports site, in 2016. … ESPN announced Monday that Seattle athletes Russell Wilson, Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe will co-host next month’s ESPY Awards. … XFL CEO Vince McMahon denied in a Tuesday bankruptcy court filing that he plans to buy back the shuttered league. [Andy Staples/Twitter 5.26, USA Today 5.26, ESPN PR 5.26, ESPN.com 5.26]
