How will they manage to play the knockouts before Dec 9 without putting extra games on for teams that happen to make the elimination rounds, but might only play each other once or twice a season and may have already done so? Are they going to manipulate the schedule?
Not quite sure your question, but next week 28 teams will play two games and 2 teams will play three games, as follows:
If you do not make the elimination rounds, you will play a home game against a fellow team that did not make it, and an away game against another such team. They will prioritize matching up teams that only play each other three times, but there will be some inter conference third games or maybe some divisional fifth games.
If you make the quarterfinals and are eliminated, you’ll play an extra game against the other quarterfinalist from your conference.
If you make the semis, you play one game in Vegas.
If you make the finals, you play two games in Vegas and the second counts only for the in-season tournament and not the regular season.