We can all agree there are too many teams in the restart, and that was clear before so many players opted out of the bubble entirely, mostly weakening clubs that already faced long odds to make the playoffs.
Now, with the Brooklyn Nets and Washington Wizards leading a list of starless skeleton crews, the chances of at least one team going 0-8 have only increased.
Imagine if the Phoenix Suns lose to the Wizards while the Grizzlies take down the Portland Trail Blazers on July 31, the second day of game action. That'd put the Suns seven games back of the eighth spot with seven games to play. Sure, they could console themselves by knowing they only have to be in ninth and within four games of eighth to force a play-in.
But practically speaking, the Suns could be on the brink of mathematical elimination just over 24 hours into the restart. Under those circumstances, it's not just likely they would shut it down; it would be the smart move.
Why risk Devin Booker's and Deandre Ayton's health with (almost literally) nothing to play for? Even at full strength, the Suns are overmatched. Without those two, Mikal Bridges and anyone else on whom Phoenix's future relies? Forget it.
The same logic applies to several other squads—looking at you, Wizards, Sacramento Kings and San Antonio Spurs. Already needing near miracles to survive, an early loss or two would remove incentives for long shots to keep trying.
Somebody's going to stumble early, pack it in and treat the rest of the bubble experience like a glorified summer league. That'll produce a winless team. Maybe two.
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2900353-10-bold-predictions-for-nbas-regular-season-conclusion