LOS ANGELES: The NBA takes a leap into the unknown on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) when the 2020-2021 season tips off after the shortest offseason in history against the backdrop of a raging Covid-19 crisis across the United States. The new season marks the first time league action has taken place at home arenas since the 2019-2020 season was dramatically suspended in March as the coronavirus pandemic erupted across the US. Yet the upcoming season will take place in 30 locations across the United States at a time when the country continues to set new records for coronavirus cases and fatalities. The NBA has put in place a range of measures designed to mitigate the Covid-19 threat, including strict safety protocols and a tweaked schedule that cuts down on travel. The league has also only drawn up a schedule for the first half of the season — up to March 4 — in order to give itself flexibility over possible postponements.

Source: Manila Times December 21, 2020 14:37 UTC