The NBA was having one its most exciting seasons in recent memory. Both Los Angeles teams were at the top of the Western Conference, a Bucks’ team was at one point on pace for a historic season, and 13 teams were on pace for 50-plus wins. That was put to a halt when the covid-19 pandemic hit.

With a season on the brink, the NBA put together a plan to conclude the season and remarkably without a drastic loss in total games played. In less than a month, the NBA plans to begin training camps with the season set to continue on July 30.

All games are scheduled to be played at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida. After less than six weeks. eight regular season games and possible play-in for the eighth seed, six teams will be out of Orlando and heading home. The idea is to conclude everything as quickly as possible, with a goal of beginning the NBA Finals by the last day of September.

While the season will resume, there are several rules that will govern how the rosters can be formed. Beginning in

 late June, there will be a week where teams can waive and/or sign new players, and transfer players from two-way to standard contracts. Free-agent players can sign into open roster spots, while international players not currently on NBA rosters are ineligible to be signed.

Entering Orlando each team can carry 17 players on their roster, which includes 14 or 15 with standard contracts. Once the playoffs begin, rosters must be trimmed to 15, with two of those 15 designated as inactive. Should a player test positive for covid-19, his roster spot can be filled with another player.

While the circumstances of having all teams play at a single location in the absence of fans under an altered format isn’t ideal, the alternative of no NBA basketball is worse. Let the games begin to determine the champion of the very competitive 2019-2020 NBA season.