NBA 2020-2021 season guide: learn all about the dispute.
After a short break, the biggest basketball league in the world will start over! In the Disney bubble in Orlando, Florida, the NBA showed its full organizational potential and put together the most successful apparatus for protecting against the coronavirus pandemic in sports. From this Tuesday, December 22, when the ball officially rises for the 2020-2021 season, the league will face new challenges and will also deal with new protocols outside a context of sanitary isolation.
But what about on the court? Who will fight for the title? Which teams will give blood and sweat for the last places in the playoffs? And who’s just going to play extra, keeping an eye on the draft lottery? The 2020-2021 season promises a lot of emotions, has the Los Angeles Lakers as a big favorite, and is surrounded by expectations, such as the next step of the Slovenian phenomenon Luka Doncic and the impact of Kevin Durant in the Brooklyn Nets after recovering from a serious injury .
Saturday, March 20, 2021
16h30 – Atlanta Hawks x Los Angeles Lakers -SporTV 2
21h00 – Golden State Warriors x Memphis Grizzlies – ESPN
Sunday, March 21, 2021
20h00 – Washington Wizards x Brooklyn Nets – Band
Important Dates on the NBA 20-2021 AGENDA
December 11 – Pre-season starts
December 22 – Beginning of the regular season
March 4 – End of the first part of the regular phase
March 5th to 10th – All-Star Break (no Star Game, depending on the pandemic)
March 11 – Beginning of the second part of the regular phase
May 16 – End of the second part of the regular phase
May 18th to 21st – Playoffs playoff dispute
May 22 – July 22 – NBA Playoffs
THE MAIN CANDIDATES FOR THE TITLE:
Nº 1 – LOS ANGELES LAKERS
The defending champion is even stronger and promises to be a headache for anyone who dreams of winning the 2020-2021 season title. Even with little room for maneuver, the Lakers’ board did a great job of making use of the wingman pivot Montrelz Harrell, last season’s best sixth man, and point guard Dennis Schröder, second best sixth man. The team still managed on the market Marc Gasol, Wesley Matthews and kept Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Anthony Davis is expected to evolve even further alongside LeBron, making it difficult to imagine this great time out of a final in July.
Time base: LeBron James, Dennis Schroder, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Anthony Davis e Marc Gasol
The franchise guy: LeBron James
Nº 2 – MILWAUKEE BUCKS
The Milwaukee Bucks, which in the last two seasons had the best campaign of the regular phase, arrives again among the favorites for the title. The big change from last season is the arrival of point guard Jrue Holiday, spectacular in both attack and defense, an upgrade over Eric Bledsoe. The team may feel the absences of George Hill and Wesley Matthews, but impose respect with an initial quintet formed by Holiday, Donte DiVincenzo, Khris Middleton, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez. Giannis arrives to fight for his 3rd MVP title.
Time base: Jrue Holiday, Donte DiVincenzo, Khris Middleton, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez
The franchise guy: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Nº 3 – LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
Despite the traumatic elimination in the last playoff, the Los Angeles Clippers is once again applying for the title. The team maintained stars like Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, and will try to make the first final of its history under the command of Tyronn Lue, champion with the Cleveland Cavaliers of LeBron James in 2016. The departure of Montrelz Harrell will be supplied by Serge Ibaka, more versatile. Winger Luke Kennard, who came from the Pistons, adds quality to the perimeter. Patrick Beverley and Marcus Morris Sr. close the list of key players in the cast.
Time base: Patrick Beverley, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Marcus Morris and Ivica Zubac
The guy in the franchise: Kawhi Leonard
Nº 4 – MIAMI HEAT
Biggest surprise of the last season after reaching the final being the fifth placed in the East, the Miami Heat comes for another promising campaign. The Florida team has Jimmy Butler at the peak of his career, renewed with maestro Goran Dragic, held Kelly Olynyk, added Avery Bradley and should have evolutionary leaps from the quartet formed by Tyler Herro, Bam Adebayo, Duncan Robinson and Kendrick Nunn. It is true that the team lost winger Jae Crowder on the market, but the arrival of Precious Achiuwa, pivotal player of the Draft’s 20th, may reduce that impact.
Time base: Goran Dragic, Duncan Robinson, Jimmy Butler, Meyers Leonard e Bam Adebayo
The franchise guy: Jimmy Butler
Nº 5 – BROOKLYN NETS
After many seasons as an extra in the NBA, the Brooklyn Nets finally arrive as a title favorite. The team will have the debut of Steve Nash as coach and will be led on the court by the outstanding Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Durant, recovered from an Achilles tendon rupture, has not played since June 2019. Another aspect that puts the Nets in the favorites hall is the depth of their squad: Caris LeVert, Spencer Dinwiddie, Joe Harris, DeAndre Jordan, Taurean Prince, Jarrett Allen, Jeff Green and Landry Shamet are names to make any coach happy.
Time base: Kyrie Irving, Caris LeVert, Joe Harris, Kevin Durant and Jarrett Allen
The guy in the franchise: Kevin Durant
Where to Watch the 2020-2021 NBA Season on TV?
Matches will be broadcast on the channels ESPN e ESPN App, however, only 3 matches will be shown in Brazil.
The best basketball in the world is also guaranteed on the Globo Sport platforms after renewal of the broadcast agreement with the NBA. And the emotions of the 2020-2021 season dispute already start on Tuesday, the 22nd, with a double round: at 9pm, SporTV 2 showcases Golden State Warriors vs. Brooklyn Nets and, following, the classic between defending champion Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers.
On Open TV A Band and the NBA signed the contract renewal between the parties with the signing of a long-term extension to the Brazilian market. The deal with the broadcaster provides for two live matches a week (usually on Thursdays and Sundays), in addition to broadcasting the Playoffs games – including the decisive conference series – and the 2021 Finals on open TV.
