The Milwaukee Bucks learned their opponents for the remainder of the regular season as the NBA’s updated schedule was released on Friday night.
The NBA’s plans evolved to their next stage on Friday night, in spite of ongoing concerns about their practicality.
With July 30 remaining the league’s restart date, that proposition now seems a little more real as the updated schedule has been released for the remaining regular season games that will be played.
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The season will open up again on July 30 with the Clippers and Lakers going head-to-head to headline that opening night.
The Milwaukee Bucks will make their return the following night with another marquee matchup, as they’ll play the Boston Celtics. Of course, the Celtics were in Milwaukee and set to be the Bucks’ opponent for a game that ultimately wasn’t played when Rudy Gobert’s positive coronavirus test shut the league down.
In total, the Bucks will play eight “seeding games” to close out the season at Walt Disney World, with a formidable list of opponents lying in wait.
With the eight worst teams in the league staying at home, it’s fair to say there was never going to be the potential for the kind of easy games that there could be under normal circumstances. Still, the Bucks’ schedule will offer a particularly stern test, even if the results will have little impact on anything for them heading into the postseason.
With games spread across the day, Bucks games will tip-off at times ranging from 12:30 to 20:00 central time. Following on from the Celtics, the Bucks will then play the Rockets, Nets, Heat, Mavericks, Raptors, Wizards, and Grizzlies.
In a statement released alongside the schedule on Bucks.com, general manager Jon Horst praised Adam Silver and the NBA for the work they’ve done to put this plan in place, and expressed his enthusiasm at the Bucks getting the chance to finish out their championship challenge on the court again.
"“We commend Adam Silver for his steady leadership during the hiatus and for working closely with the National Basketball Players Association to produce comprehensive protocols that will enable us to complete the season and to crown an NBA champion. Our players are excited to get back on the court. While we will miss the opportunity of playing in front of our fans at Fiserv Forum, we will be grateful for Bucks fans cheering us on from afar.”"
Television details have yet to be confirmed for the Bucks’ final game against the Grizzlies, but at least six of their seven before that will be broadcasted on national television, while it’s also been confirmed by the Bucks that Fox Sports Wisconsin will televise some number of games locally too.
From a radio perspective, Ted Davis will also be on the call for every game for WTMJ Radio and the Bucks Radio Network.
Those kind of details, and the idea of hearing Davis, Jim Paschke, and Marques Johnson on Bucks calls again is enough to spark some excitement given the way the last few months have played out. Now, the hope needs to be that things will somehow hold up to allow this plan to become a reality.