The moment awaited by NBA players to return to training fields, this year, apart from arriving two months late, they did so wrapped up in the first cpositive aspects of COVID-19, concern and pessimism regarding the future of the competition.
It was not for less after having to start training sessions with individual jobs in which one player had to be isolated in each basket, accompanied by a coach, that is in the case of teams that were lucky enough to start.
That was not the dand the Golden State Warriors, who after confirming that within their squad, in the coronavirus test carried out on Monday, two players tested positive to COVID-19 and will have to postpone until tomorrow, Wednesday, the start of individual training.
Worry and pessimism
The Worry and pessimism were the dominant notes that occurred on the first day of training, while across the country the pandemic of Coronavirus continues to spread and with the possibility of more Americans testing positive and the number of deaths increasing, which is already on its way to 270,000 people.
Everything ccontrary to what is usual on a first day of training on the NBA fields with the coaches and players wrapped in optimism and illusion in order to fight to overcome what was achieved in the previous season.
The coaches wanted to maintain and show the positive attitude, but at the end of the day, the predominant feeling was one of caution this time, by checking first hand all the limitations that they will have to face, at least in the immediate future.
Work camps, open
The positive note was that, aside from all the obstacles they will have to overcome, the first preseason camp in the coronavirus era was formally open, although each team had to limit their work to the individual section.
While rookie coach with the Houston Rockets, Stephen Silas, felt that each time he was closer to overcoming the performance situation of limitations that the pandemic demandsVeteran Doc Rivers, who makes his debut this season with the Philadelphia Sixers, expressed his “fears.”
“I’m very concerned about whether we can do it,” Rivers acknowledged.. “What the whole country is experiencing is not easy at all, much less what awaits us.” The Sixers coach said noThere is no doubt that there will probably be more positives, many more.
The virus does not distinguish sports
Rivers recalled how the virus has become a bigger problem for college football and the National Football League (NFL) in terms of getting certain matches to take place.
“These effects have no other objective than to ensure that the teams do not remain for a long period without one or two players who are key”, Rivers highlighted. “His absence could ruin a whole season.”
“In (American) football they compete once a week and have 1,000 players. So when they don’t have three or four, they can get over it, “Rivers considered.” We don’t have three or four players, we are in trouble, especially because of the number of games. We are playing three to four weekly. “
Daily tests
Players and coaches they will be tested on a daily basis and this is likely to be the plan throughout the campaign. The protocols that the league sent last weekThey suggest that, in many cases, it would take at least 12 days for a player to return to the field after testing positive for COVID-19.
The same feeling had the Washington Wizards coach, Scott Brooks, who recognized that within his squad there had already been a first positive case, although it did not prevent them from starting training.
Also the head coach of the Orlando Magic, Steve Clifford, rHe recognized that pivot Mo Bamba, who tested positive for COVID-19 a few months ago, is still “far” from being ready to play.
Five against five
The general manager of the Warriors, Bob Myers, was in charge of reporting the two positive cases that occurred within his team and delaying the start of the training camp one day, to tomorrow, Wednesday, with the individual work and the group work to next Monday, six days before the preseason begins.
Some teams will be able to start group training on Friday with 5 against 5 sessions and the rest will be on Sunday. The NBA works with the company BioReference – the same one that was in charge of the tests in the “bubble” and which will charge the league $ 140 per test – in standardized league-wide testing.
Possibly the company It will have its own staff that will travel with the teams to take care of the tests during the meetings that they dispute as visitors. Injuries, having started training without much rest time, they are also a concern, as well as conditioning.
Before Tuesday no team had a copy of the calendar for the first 36 games, so travel plans and days off have not been established, something that also takes away the dreams of the coaches and managers of each franchise
