Looking like a 22 December start and a 72 game season. Very likely NBA players could play Olympics in that situation, and if anything it appears like maybe the NBA has made this decision as a compromise to those ends.

I doubt the Boomers have Simmons anyway, but if all the other big guns turn up it'll still be our best-ever team with our best-ever shot at a medal.

Why the comment re Simmons? Only blemish I know of was his relation towards Lemanis. Otherwise, what's the issue?

Putting aside the fact ME doesn't like black people talking about race (Simmons, Cambage etc) but Simmons never makes himself available for the Boomers so even if the NBA season were to finish a month or so before the Olympics he would likely just make up some excuse to not play anyway.

Agreed Zodiac.

Is there any articles we can read confirming this new NBA starting date?

Article

https://sports.yahoo.com/report-nba-targeting-dec-22-as-start-date-for-2020-21-season-184154594.html

"Putting aside the fact ME doesn't like black people talking about race (Simmons, Cambage etc) but Simmons never makes himself available for the Boomers so even if the NBA season were to finish a month or so before the Olympics he would likely just make up some excuse to not play anyway."


Shoehorning race into a conversation that has nothing to do with it, there. People are allowed to have a different point of view to you on that. Fact is yes, Ben does not make any real effort to play for the Boomers. He has had no real involvement since he got butt-hurt about missing out on the 2014 team. I have no faith or expectation of him ever playing with us.


"When would there be time to have a training camp, practice games etc, if indeed there is a Games. "

My understanding is the Finals would finish early-mid June, giving anywhere between 8 weeks and a month between NBA season and games. Ample time for the players who care enough to be involved.

Another consideration - while the Olympics will have NBA players, the qualifiers are unlikely to. So that may very well mean that lesser teams scrape though

This is good news. I'd imagine guys like Delly, Exum, Mills won't be going deep into the playoffs so they'll be able to join the Boomers early.

Baynes could be an interesting one. He's a UFA this season yeah? I imagine he'll link up with a contender so he could end up joining the team late

No Aussies went all that deep this year, and it's unlikely any will next..

But for other nations, sure. We all know Team USA will phone in their squad.

Yeah the US squad wont be a strong one. You won't see the likes of LeBron.

If you could make a team only from the non playoff teams it would still be competitive if not amazing. i tried to put together a squad of guys who missed this years playoffs. I left off the often injured guys who likely wouldn't ever commit.

Young / Fox / Morant
Beal / Booker / Redick
DeRozen / Lavine
Love / Aldridge / JJJ
Drummond / Towns / Ayton

If you add in guys who lost in the first round you can add guys like Mitchell, Conley, Lillard, McCollum, Paul.

Just to note, I'm not basing this on who i think will miss out on the playoffs next season, just using this season as an example.

USA would still be gold medal favourites but would be vulnerable to squads like Australia, France, or Spain who have great continuity in their playing groups.

Serbia just imploded though. No idea what happened there.

Back on topic...Xmas blockbuster matches to kick off season would be great