Yes, it’s finally come to this. The coronavirus pandemic has forced virtually all sports activity to come to an unexpected halt across the globe, and leagues are desperate to get back in the game. Players miss the competition, the crowds and the challenges that have driven them to reach the level of athletic participation they enjoy, and are now going into withdrawal. Something, almost anything, would be better than nothing, and the NBA is reportedly ready to give players an alternative that might just fit within the social distancing parameters established by health officials. Going back to their roots on the neighborhood playground, professional, million-dollar basketball players might soon be competing in a game of HORSE.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski first brought the possibility to light, saying on Twitter, “Sources: The NBA and ESPN plan to televise a HORSE competition is nearing completion and among those expected to participate include Chris Paul, Trae Young and Zach LaVine. Competition will also include a couple of WNBA players and recent NBA alumni.”

HORSE is a type of basketball contest most commonly found on playgrounds with kids who are just getting into the game, or who aren’t ready for competitive basketball, and is essentially the first experience most children have with hoops. It is also a game found regularly on courts by other generations, with players looking to win by developing trick shots that their opponents can’t repeat.

For those not familiar with the game, its premise is simple. Take a shot, preferably a unique or difficult one, and, if you make it, your opponent has to replicate it exactly. If he or she doesn’t make the basket, the reward is a letter, starting with H and continuing with each missed shot until HORSE is spelled. Once that happens, the player who completed the word is eliminated.

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The NBA’s regular season was set to conclude next Wednesday, April 15. Of course, the coronavirus forced the league to shut down on the night of March 11. Will the league be able to complete the regular season? That seems very unlikely as teams generally have around 18 games remaining. Some cities may not “reopen” until late summer.

More likely, the NBA will skip right to the postseason if that’s even possible. Again, the thought of having 16 cities hosting games (eight playoff teams in each conference) is likely a pipedream. What has been floated is a postseason tournament in one location – most likely Las Vegas and without any fans in attendance.

That way, the NBA could somewhat keep the players self-quarantined all in one spot. Basketball bettors and the TV networks would take any hoops action at this point, even if the playoff games are played in rather non-descript gyms or even makeshift ballrooms in those empty Vegas resorts. For what it’s worth, executives at Fox Sports recently told advertising executives that they believed sports as a whole could return by late June or early July, and that’s early enough for the NBA to hold some sort of postseason.

Basketball fans should be getting ready for the NBA Finals. The NBA regular season would have been coming to a close right about now if it hadn’t been for the coronavirus, and hoops fans are undoubtedly feeling like a huge void exists in their life. Fortunately, there is a glimmer of hope, as the league believes it can get going again in May or June and, in the meantime, there’s always NBA 2K20. The NBA-based basketball video game has become a popular eSports alternative (eSports action, in general, is on the rise, as well), and this weekend will see a competition that has drawn in 16 NBA players, including Kevin Durant of the Brooklyn Nets, Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks and others. Fans can catch all the action on ESPN.

The NBA 2K20 Player Tournament begins tonight at 7 PM Eastern Time (ET), and will be available on ESPN or ESPN2, depending on the schedule, and all the action can be found on ESPN3 as video-on-demand offerings. Getting things started will be a half-hour preshow to get fans pumped up, and it will be broadcast on ESPN. Then, the first hour of the program will continue on the channel before switching over to ESPN2 until 11:30 PM ET.

ESPN2 will pick up the action again on Sunday, airing the tournament live from 12-4 PM ET. Next Tuesday, the quarterfinals will be held from 7-11 PM ET, continuing on ESPN2, before the games switch back to ESPN for the finals on Saturday, April 11. The times for the finals have not yet been decided.

Besides Durant and Young, the lineup includes: Hassan Whiteside of the Portland Trail Blazers, Donovan Mitchell of the Utah Jazz, Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns, Andre Drummond of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Zach LaVine of the Chicago Bulls, Montrezl Harrell of the LA Clippers, Domantas Sabonas of the Indiana Pacers, Deandre Ayton of the Phoenix Suns, DeMarcus Cousins (currently looking for a new home after being waived by the LA Lakers this past February), Michael Porter Jr. of the Denver Nuggets, Rui Hachimura of the Washington Wizards, Patrick Beverly of the LA Clippers, Harrison Barnes of the Sacramento Kings and Derrick Jones Jr. of the Miami Heat.

Drastic times call for drastic measures, and it’s already understood that the NBA as we knew it is not going to be able to play out as it normally would. This isn’t surprising, nor should it be cause for concern – the coronavirus has disrupted everything, and it is impossible to apply standard solutions to resolve any issue. Changes are going to have to be made as industries begin the rebuilding process, and the NBA is reportedly working on a plan that would allow it to, in some fashion, salvage the remainder of the 2019-20 season and hold the NBA Finals.

There had been speculation that the league might be able to resume sometime late in April or possibly in May. A May return might be possible if COVID-19 can be brought under control, but a June relaunch is more optimistic. However, even if games were to startup that month, they won’t be the same.

What could follow, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, is a completely modified league structure that would facilitate the completion of the season without forcing it to run too deep into the final months of the year. He points out that the NBA could take its cue from what is currently seen with the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) and its attempts at continuing the game amid the coronavirus.

The CBA stopped its games in January and hoped to return to the basketball courts in the middle of February. That goal was then pushed out to the beginning of April, then the middle of April and, finally the end of the month of the beginning of May. It desperately wants to get the action going as quickly as possible, and is now working on an alternative.

The NBA started it all. The league would have been happy to allow games to continue while the coronavirus battle was being fought elsewhere, but, when Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for the virus earlier this month, it started a chain of events that would lead to all major sports organizations canceling their activities. There’s little doubt that leagues are desperate to get things running again, as they stand to lose more than $12 billion combined, and fans would like to have something to see other than news coverage on COVID-19, as well. Fortunately, if things go well, the wish may be granted sooner than expected.

The NBA is closely monitoring what information is being distributed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and would like nothing more than to see the agency give the all-clear. This is most likely not going to happen anytime soon, though, especially as some states are reporting an increase – not a decrease – in suspected coronavirus cases. Still, the league is exploring alternatives and would not be opposed to seeing some limited hoops action later next month, but no one should expect fans to be allowed to attend.

The issue is bigger than just the NBA and its desire to put players back on the court, though. Ultimately, neither team owners nor league commissioner Adam Silver can make the final decision. Some jurisdictions across the country have implemented restrictions that limit any type of gathering, in some cases, of ten or more people. This automatically disqualifies any sporting event from being held in that jurisdiction.

At some point, sports activity will pick up again and, according to several sources, May is a more optimistic goal. Realistically, though, regular action that includes basketball fans being able to watch games in person most likely won’t start until June, at the earliest. A more depression notion exists that doesn’t see games getting underway until August or September, but there’s little chance things will have to be delayed so drastically.

Thursday is usually one of the best nights of the week in the NBA because TNT has a national doubleheader and the league tries to give its TV partner marquee matchups in those slots. After all, TNT is shelling out billions of dollars. However, TNT is also part of the NCAA Tournament television package so it will not have the NBA doubleheader for the first two weeks of the Big Dance. Frankly, college basketball will overshadow the NBA overall for the next three weeks.

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This Thursday, the TNT opener is a potential Eastern Conference Finals preview between the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks, with the opening line off the board as of Wednesday night due to the uncertain status of Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. He has missed the past two games with a minor knee injury. The Bucks are locks to finish with the Eastern Conference’s best record (and probably the NBA’s best). Boston is battling Toronto for the No. 2 seed but falling back of late. As long as the Celtics don’t fall to No. 4, they would avoid Milwaukee until the East Finals.

In the 2019 postseason, the Celtics won the first game of the conference semifinals in Milwaukee but then lost the next four. These teams have split two meetings thus far this regular season, each winning at home. The Bucks are 4-2 ATS in the past six in the series.

Just four games on this Thursday’s NBA schedule and not one of them features a matchup of teams that would both currently qualify for the playoffs.

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The first tip at 7pm ET looks like a mismatch as the terrible New York Knicks visit the Philadelphia 76ers, who are all but invincible at home at 27-2 and will be set as heavy favorites at sportsbooks. The Sixers, who like the Knicks will be playing the second of a back-to-back, look for the four-game season sweep but the first three were all close with the Knicks covering in each. Philly is currently without All-Star Ben Simmons due to lower-back problems that could put his season in jeopardy.

What’s the one thing these teams do have in common? Both could have new head coaches next season. New York almost surely will as it is currently operating under interim coach Mike Miller following the firing of David Fizdale in early December. While the Knicks have been better under Miller, it’s a long shot he gets the full-time job.

The NBA comes out of its week-long All-Star break on Thursday with six games, although it’s not the best schedule with just one featuring a matchup of teams currently that would both make the playoffs.

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That would be the first of a TNT doubleheader featuring the Brooklyn Nets at the Philadelphia 76ers with an 8pm ET tip. Despite star point guard Kyrie Irving missing 33 games this season, the Nets currently sit seventh in the Eastern Conference standings. They aren’t going to reach sixth, but also aren’t likely to slide past eighth. Irving had a setback with his shoulder (also has had some knee issues) this week, will see a specialist for the second time this season and is out indefinitely again. Brooklyn is 10-15 ATS on the road this year.

No team is more schizophrenic in terms of home/road splits than the 76ers, who are fifth in the East. They have the NBA’s best home record at 25-2 (15-10-2 ATS) but are 9-19 on the road despite one of the most talented rosters in the NBA. The Sixers are 8.5-point favorites for Thursday and lead the season series 2-1 against the Nets, taking the one in Philly 117-106 on January 15. The Sixers are 6-1 ATS in the past seven meetings.

Seton Hall hasn’t won the Big East regular-season championship in men’s basketball since 1992-93, but the No. 16 Pirates control their destiny to do that this year. They host No. 21 Butler in a 6:30 p.m. ET tipoff Wednesday, the only game of the night involving two ranked schools. Seton Hall is a 6.5-point favorite.

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First-place Seton Hall (18-7, 10-3) held a one-game lead over No. 15 Creighton as of Tuesday. The Pirates lost the first meeting with Creighton on February 12 and visit Omaha to close the regular season. Seton Hall has one of the best scorers in the country in senior guard Myles Powell. He’s second in the Big East at 21.7 points per game and has climbed to third in school history in total points with 2,161 career.

Butler (19-7, 7-6) is fifth in the Big East and has alternated wins and losses over its past six. The Bulldogs hosted Seton Hall on January 15 and lost 78-70 despite leading by 10 at halftime. Powell scored 19 of his 29 points in the second half. Quincy McKnight also had a huge game with 11 points, 13 assists and seven rebounds. Seton Hall is 6-1 ATS in the past seven meetings.

This is an important week in the NBA as the 2020 trade deadline is on Thursday afternoon. Thus, following the deadline should be the last time there are any significant changes to the championship futures odds – barring major injury/suspension, etc., to a contender, of course.

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Perhaps it would be fitting for the Los Angeles Lakers to win their 17th NBA title come June, which would tie the Boston Celtics for most in league history. The Lakers haven’t won it all since 2010 when they were led by the legendary Kobe Bryant, who was named NBA Finals MVP for the second time in his career.

Of course, Kobe, his 13-year-old daughter and seven others were tragically killed in a helicopter accident on January 26 in Los Angeles – barely 12 hours after Bryant was passed as the NBA’s third all-time leading scorer by current Laker LeBron James. Bryant’s death was felt all around the world, and obviously the most by the Laker organization. Kobe played 20 seasons with the Lakers and holds many significant team records. The Lakers, who could be extra motivated now to win a title for Kobe, are +250 title favorites.

Basketball fans, and the entire world, were shocked yesterday after learning that NBA legend Kobe Bryant had died in a helicopter crash. Bryant was on his way to a youth basketball game when the chopper went down over Calabasas, California, killing the star, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others. The death of Bryant, affectionately called The Black Mamba, impacts the game of basketball on a number of levels, as well as the sports community overall, and also hits home to Calvin Ayre.

Bryant first entered the NBA in 1996 when he was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets. Almost immediately, he was traded to the LA Lakers, where he spent the entirety of his long and successful 20-season career – five NBA championships, two NBA Finals MVPs, 18 NBA All-Star appearances, 11 All-NBA First Team selections and more. When he retired in 2016, he was the third-highest regular-season scoring player in league history.

However, he was much more than a basketball phenom. Off the court, he founded the Kobe Bryant China Fund, which worked in conjunction with the Chinese government-backed Soong Ching Ling Foundation to bring education and health programs to China. He was also behind the Mamba Sports Academy in California, a center designed to provide a multi-sport training facility to young athletes. He was the official ambassador for After-School All-Stars, a non-profit organization that develops after-school programs for children across the US.

Bryant was also involved with the LA Lakers Youth Foundation (LALYF), which supports non-profit organizations. Calvin Ayre and the Calvin Ayre Foundation sponsored the LALYF twice, and Ayre has contributed directly to the organization, having worked directly with Bryant, Magic Johnson and others to help improve the quality of life of local children.

Many assume that one of the two Los Angeles teams will win the Western Conference, and it may well be that the Lakers or Clippers do just that. LeBron James’ Lakers are the +275 favorites to win the NBA title come June, while Kawhi Leonard’s Clippers are the +300 second-favorites. It would certainly be must-see TV if the Lakers and Clippers faced off in the Western Conference Finals.

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Let’s not forget about the Denver Nuggets, however. They are +1500. First off, injuries can happen. The Lakers’ Anthony Davis is very injury-prone, which could torpedo their title chances. Leonard and teammate Paul George also have been known to get hurt. Second, Denver probably has the deepest team in the West other than the Clippers. The Nuggets have one of the best players in the league in Nikola Jokic. He was first-team All-NBA last season at center, not the more-hyped Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers.

There’s also talk that Denver could be the leading candidate to trade for Cleveland Cavaliers power forward Kevin Love, a double-double machine. Neither the Lakers nor Clippers have cap space/assets to land Love, who is almost a sure thing to be dealt by the February 6 deadline. Love would fit the Nuggets perfectly as a stretch-four who could also play center when Jokic is getting a breather. Denver could trade the expiring contract of Paul Millsap (an expiring deal would appeal to the Cavs) and throw in a promising young player, of which the Nuggets have a few. A Big 3 of Jokic, Love and Jamal Murray would be a threat to win it all.

As the head of the most popular basketball league in the world, former NBA commissioner David Stern set in motion a number of activities that would see the league reach new heights on an international stage. He was in charge from 1984 to 2014 and worked tirelessly at advancing the game, helping turn it into a multibillion-dollar organization. However, all good things must come to an end. After suffering a brain hemorrhage three weeks ago, Stern passed away on New Year’s Day. He was 77 years old.

With Stern at the helm, the NBA added seven new teams and two brand new leagues. The G League, previously known as the NBA Development League, was founded in 2001 and the WNBA – the Women’s NBA – was founded in 1996 with its inaugural season held the following year. He was continuously been singled out as the man who made the NBA an international household brand.

Current commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement about Stern’s passing, “For 22 years, I had a courtside seat to watch David in action. He was a mentor and one of my dearest friends. We spent countless hours in the office, at arenas and on planes wherever the game would take us. Like every NBA legend, David had extraordinary talents, but with him it was always about the fundamentals — preparation, attention to detail, and hard work.”

He added, “Every member of the NBA family is the beneficiary of David’s vision, generosity and inspiration. Our deepest condolences go out to David’s wife, Dianne, their sons, Andrew and Eric, and their extended family, and we share our grief with everyone whose life was touched by him.”

The marquee day on the NBA’s annual regular-season schedule is not opening night or the final day of the season but Christmas Day. That’s when the league draws its best ratings – there are no other major live sporting events in the USA on the holiday this year – and often draws its top betting action. Some fans believe the NBA should push the start of every regular season back to Christmas like it did during the 2011-12 lockout season.

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The first game on the slate, with all of them nationally televised, is Boston Celtics at Toronto Raptors at noon ET. It’s only the second time in franchise history that the Raptors play on the holiday (no doubt reward for winning last year’s NBA title), while the Celtics usually do. Toronto is a bit banged-up right now so is a 2.5-point home underdog despite being on an 8-0 SU and ATS streak at home against Boston. The Dinos lost the first meeting this season 112-106 in Boston way back on October 25.

At 2:30 p.m. ET, it’s the Milwaukee Bucks at Philadelphia 76ers, the two teams most consider the best this season in the Eastern Conference. The Bucks are playing like that with the NBA’s best record and Giannis Antetokounmpo playing better than he did in his 2018-19 MVP season. The 76ers are excellent at home this year but very shaky on the road. Philadelphia is a 3-point underdog, and it’s the first meeting of the season between these clubs.

Perhaps it was the league’s way of trying to get back at the Houston Rockets for creating a huge rift between it and China, but NBA refs, for one reason or another, completely dropped the ball in a recent game between the Rockets and another Texas team, the San Antonio Spurs. It was a blatant miscue on the part of the officiating crew that even a fan in the nosebleed seats could have called better. What will go down as one of the biggest ref blunders of the season has everyone crying foul, and sportsbook FanDuel making amends where it doesn’t need to. The company has announced that it will issue refunds as a gesture of customer loyalty over the refs’ mistake.

It’s difficult not to tell when the basketball goes through the net, especially as the result of a slam dunk. However, when Rockets point guard James Harden slammed it home against the Spurs, the refs believed it bounced out, not in, and denied him the two points he was rightfully owed. With that denial, a chain of events would be set in motion that would lead to the Rockets losing by two points in double overtime.

Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni was livid when the call was made and tried to challenge the decision, only to be told, in certain words, sorry for your loss. After the game was over, an NBA ref team reviewed the video and acknowledged that Harden had, in fact, scored the points. The Rockets have already sent a formal request to the league in order to have a decision made about how to handle the situation and want to either be awarded the win or have the final almost eight minutes of the contest replayed.

FanDuel didn’t waste any time jumping in and helping to ease the sting. Kevin Hennessy, the company’s director of publicity, issued a statement explaining that the sportsbook is issuing refunds and said, “The FanDuel Sportsbook believes it was ‘HARDen Luck,’ when a dunk by James Harden was mistakenly ruled an unsuccessful field goal in regular time and the Rockets wound up losing 135-133 in double overtime.”