Report: Blazers preferred 20-team return-to-play format
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The Portland Trail Blazers were the lone club to vote against the NBA's 22-team return-to-play format, citing their preference for a 20-team setup as one of the reasons, sources told Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes.
While the squad is eager to resume the 2019-20 campaign, Portland believes there were more competitive and innovative formats available to choose from, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
Input from their players also contributed to the Trail Blazers' decision, Wojnarowski reports.
Guard CJ McCollum later confirmed the team's front office and ownership allowed him and his teammates to speak their minds regarding the different return-to-play formats.
We play for an ownership group that actually listens to its players and has a backbone. We voiced what we felt was the best option and they followed our lead. I commend our front office and Jody Allen. https://t.co/mAj5EzeiUh
— CJ McCollum (@CJMcCollum) June 4, 2020
Portland star Damian Lillard has been vocal about wanting a fair shot at a postseason berth, and he even threatened to sit out if his team wasn't given that opportunity. The five-time All-Star later clarified he isn't against playing non-postseason games if the league resumed play.
Under the 22-team format, the Trail Blazers and each of the competing clubs will get eight more regular-season contests.
The No. 8 seed in both conferences will automatically clinch a playoff spot if it leads the No. 9 seed by more than four games at the end of regular-season play. If the gap between the No. 8 and No. 9 seeds is less than four games, those teams will meet in a double-elimination play-in tournament.
Portland is among a trio of teams that trail the eighth-seeded Memphis Grizzlies by 3 1/2 games.