Milwaukee Bucks: Schedule set for scrimmages in Orlando
By Adam McGee
Before resuming the season in Orlando, the Milwaukee Bucks will face three Western Conference teams in on-site scrimmages at Walt Disney World Resort.
The Milwaukee Bucks‘ 2019-20 season is officially set to resume on July 31, but the Bucks will be back on the hardwood going head-to-head with NBA opponents over a week before then.
After such a lengthy layoff — close to five months by the time play restarts — conventional wisdom suggested a preseason of sorts would be essential for NBA teams before games get underway for real.
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With news that scrimmages will be staged ahead of the regular season seeding games resuming, that’s exactly what will happen too.
The news was announced in a statement from the league that laid out the schedule for a full seven days of scrimmage contests involving all 22 teams who will be participating in the season’s conclusion at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando.
With ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski having previously reported that the games would be set up to prevent likely playoff opponents from facing each other, for the Bucks, that means going up against three Western Conference squads who will simply be scrapping for the eighth seed when the restart occurs.
That scrimmage slate will start with a 2pm central time clash with the San Antonio Spurs on July 23 at Visa Athletic Center. Next up will be a meeting with the Sacramento Kings at 11.30am central time on July 25 in The Arena at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports. Then finally, the Bucks will scrimmage against Zion Williamson’s New Orleans Pelicans on July 27 at 7pm central time, with that contest, again taking place at The Arena.
In previous meetings earlier in the season, the Bucks split their season series 1-1 with the Spurs, won both of their matchups with the Kings, and emerged victorious in their sole game against the Pelicans.
Exactly what structure the games will take on remains to be seen, particularly given the unique situation in which players will be trying to regain their sharpness and get back up to game speed.
On that front, it’s currently still to be determined as to whether the games will be broadcast for fans to enjoy.
The statement released by the NBA noted that “potential broadcast details will be determined at a later date”, while ESPN’s Marc J. Spears reported that “it’s possible that scrimmages can be televised, but it’s a work in progress.”
Given that the NBA’s television partners would likely be open to games that would bridge the gap in what they originally expected to broadcast, and the league is likely open to any idea that could decrease the financial losses from those deals not being fulfilled exactly as anticipated, it seems there should be sufficient good will to find a solution.
Next. Middleton reflects on hiatus, gearing up for restart. dark
If that proves to be the case, the Bucks will be back on your TV screens in just under three weeks from now.