The NBA this past week nailed down their format for the conclusion of the 2019-20 season, to take place at Disney Wide World of Sports in Orlando this summer. But there is plenty left to figure out. From major things like an exact schedule to smaller details like the very exact number of people each team is allowed to bring into the quarantine bubble setting.
Here’s the South Florida Sun Sentinel reporting on Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra:
As part of the NBA’s plan to resume the league in a quarantine-like setting is limiting team traveling parties, including players and coaches, to an estimated 35 or so when competition resumes in the absence of fans at the Wide World of Sports complex on the Disney World campus just outside of Orlando.
Already, the league is debating whether players on two-way contracts will be included, which for the Heat could limit the development of guard Gabe Vincent and forward Kyle Alexander. Beyond that, there figure to be difficult decisions with support staff.
“The only thing I’ll say about that is I don’t want to term anything ‘essential’ or ‘non-essential’ staff,” Spoelstra said, limited in his allowable comments, with the NBA’s plan yet to be finalized. “That’s not fair to any of our staff members. These are extreme circumstances. We will plan and act accordingly when we get to that point.” …
With the NBA projecting the season’s resumption will run from July 31 to a potential Oct. 12 Game 7 of the NBA Finals, it could leave the team separated from Heat president Pat Riley for months.
At 75, Riley stands in a high-risk category of contracting COVID-19.
This sort of thing will be a heavy discussion topic in the coming weeks. Better safe than sorry, is a good rule of thumb.
After such details are worked out, and decisions are finalized, and the focus becomes actual basketball games again, it’ll be a very good time.
