I cannot believe they will play more regular season games. I believe that if they resume, they will resume with the playoffs based upon the present standings. Even then, it might be an abbreviated playoff schedule.
I think it depends on how long they end up going without playing. If they resume in 30 days, like the original talk seemed to point towards, then I could see a week or two of games without fans in attendance. If it goes longer than that, I think they'll go with a live trial of sorts for Silver's play-in series for the playoffs before the playoffs starts. That would also allow the league to get a couple of games under their belt before the real coverage of the playoffs starts, ironing out some kinks.
Silver has talked about wanting to do a play-in tournament of sorts, or series, to determine either the 7th & 8th seeds or just the 8th seed. That would give the 9th place teams this year a chance at getting in so less unhappy franchises. Any other team wasn't getting in, realistically, and even the 9th seeded teams this year didn't look likely to get in. It would be more of a game for the league to work off some rust before going live with the real playoffs.
Portland is the 9th seed in the West now and I can see them raising a stink if they can't play to get in otherwise. Having a winner takes all game against Memphis would make for a hell of a game to watch on TV. It would bring back the NBA in a good way, hopefully. Whichever sport is back first will draw huge ratings and if it's a game that means something, it will pull in even more people.
I know any team raising a fuss over missing the playoffs will look like a villain of sorts but Portland already has Carmelo to kick it off. He's used to appearing selfish.
