The NBA almost certainly won't play an abbreviated playoffs such as a single elimination tournament.

"The league needs that four rounds of best of seven," said Brian Windhorst on The Hoop Collective Podcast. "When I say the need it, the revenue it brings from a television standpoint and the revenue standpoint for tickets, and we don't know if fans will be let into these games, but at least in theory as we're sitting working with the spreadsheet waiting for the world to get ahold of itself, they need that to hit next year's salary cap number."

If the 19-20 revenues come in far lower than expected, NBA players won't receive the 10 percent salary held in escrow and distributed at the end of the season. Teams could also withhold additional salary in 20-21 in order to make up the difference for the revenue shortfall. 

"That's why the players are highly incentivized to work with the league to get as much as the season as possible. Even if it means a shortened, or very uncomfortable summer."