Things are different for everyone in 2020, in and out of sports. Including, of course, the Heat, who like all NBA teams will have a home arena environment that faces serious adjustments due to the coronavirus pandemic. Here’s the South Florida Sun Sentinel on the Heat’s first of two preseason games, which will be at home in Miami Monday night against the New Orleans Pelicans:
After the NBA completed last season in a quarantine bubble at Disney World, the coronavirus pandemic will have the Heat playing their 7 p.m. preseason opener against the New Orleans Pelicans in a setting like no other in the two decades they have called AmericanAirlines Arena home.
No fans. The coaching staff wearing masks. No dancers, mascot or any timeout entertainers on the court, due to protocol limitations.
“I think everybody is just getting used to the fact that nothing is the way it was before,” coach Erik Spoelstra said. “The quicker you’re able to accept that and make the necessary adjustments, the better.
“Our world is different. But we have an opportunity to continue to compete and continue our season. So I think everybody is just grateful for that, even though it will have a slightly different feel.”
