Among changes being considered are tighter rules on mask wearingNBAE/GETTY IMAGES
The NBA yesterday met with the NBPA "about 'modifying the league's health and safety protocols,'" and the league also has "scheduled a special board of governors meeting" for today, according to sources cited by Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.com. Sources said that the topics discussed in yesterday's league-union meeting were "potentially reexamining shootarounds and practice lengths, pregame and postgame socializing on the court, further restrictions on restaurant dining and tighter rules on mask-wearing" (ESPN.com, 1/11). In N.Y., Sopan Deb notes with three games postponed in less than 24 hours, the NBA is "seeing an early but notable challenge to its attempt to finish its 72-game schedule, and it's happening before the season is a month old" (N.Y. TIMES, 1/12).
CALCULATING RISKS: On Long Island, Barbara Barker notes the NBA "has had to postpone four games because of the virus" since the season began on Dec. 22 (NEWSDAY, 1/12). In L.A., Dan Woike reports there are "factions of executives around the NBA who believe an expanded player pool could help the league navigate a wave of virus-related postponements." Some execs "hope to discuss the possibility of expanding rosters as a way to stem postponements" (L.A. TIMES, 1/12). In Chicago, Jamal Collier writes the NBA is "finding out just how hard it is to navigate through a season outside of a bubble" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 1/12). THE RINGER's Rob Mahoney wrote the NBA "should immediately move toward a more conservative approach around teams with known positives." Mahoney: "Put the Sixers, Mavericks, and Celtics on the shelf for 10 days. Postpone even more games; the schedule is built for it. Pause the whole damn season if you have to" (THERINGER.com, 1/11).
PUSHING ON: YAHOO SPORTS' Ben Rohrbach wrote the league has "shown a willingness to push an inferior product on the public in the name of financial gain," but "just how inferior remains to be seen" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 1/11). In Boston, Gary Washburn writes the NBA is "facing the perils of being an indoor sport that is trying unsuccessfully to control the actions of its players off the floor." The league has determined that the chance of passing COVID-19 during a game is "miniscule" because of the "lack of exposure time." So they are "focusing on behavior on the bench, in locker rooms and between games" (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/12). NBA TV's Brendan Haywood: “The NBA is making this up as they go because they don’t have the answers” (“Gametime,” NBA TV, 1/11).
IS ANYONE SURPRISED? In Philadelphia, David Murphy writes as long as everybody is "making their business calculations with unfettered free will," the NBA "isn't acting unethically in its facilitation of commerce." Murphy: "This is the only way for it to be done" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 1/12). In S.F., Ann Killion wonders, "Is anyone shocked this is going badly? ... Did the NBA care? No." Just like in other sports, owners and decision-makers were "thinking with their bank accounts, not their scientific common sense" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 1/12).
TOO EARLY TO CALL: USA TODAY's Jeff Zillgitt goes with the header, "NBA Season Was Always Going To Be Mayhem During Pandemic. It's Too Early To Think About Pausing" (1/12). In Toronto, Doug Smith writes the league's system is "working as well as it can." Smith: "I get that there are increasing numbers and issues exist with a handful of franchises but the truth is the vast majority of teams have not lost a single manpower game to the ubiquitous 'health and safety protocols' that are in place to this point." The NBA's plan was "never going to be foolproof, just like any plan by any governing agency cannot be foolproof" (TORONTO STAR, 1/12).
