The Heat have once again closed their AmericanAirlines Arena practice facility for player workouts, reports Ethan Skolnick of 5 Reasons Sports (Twitter link).
According to Skolnick, a second Heat player has tested positive for the coronavirus, prompting the shutdown. Miami previously closed its facility following Derrick Jones‘ positive COVID-19 test. It’s not clear in this case which player tested positive for the virus, but it’s a rotation player, according to Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel (Twitter link).
It wouldn’t be a surprise if the Heat keep their building close for workouts until the team travels to the Walt Disney World campus next week. Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald suggests (via Twitter) that the club is likely to resume its workouts in Orlando, where group activities will be permitted for players who return two negative tests at least 24 hours apart.
The Heat are one of a number of teams that have temporarily closed their facilities following positive coronavirus tests. The Nuggets, Suns, Clippers, and Nets are also known to have done so, though some have since reopened.
Coronavirus testing will still take place at AmericanAirlines Arena while the practice facility is closed, Skolnick notes.
Do you hear that distant rumble? It’s the sound of an avalanche about to hit.
It’s Florida. It’s definitely a hurricane
They are certainly overdue for a major hurricane.
And it IS 2020…
The only question is how many games will be played in Orlando (if any) before competition has to be suspended for good. Countries who have successfully resumed their basket competitions have the disease under greater control and set a much less ambitious schedule (in Spain, for instance, the champion needed to play just 7 games after resumption). With new cases everyday, players opting out and teams not able to work out, this plan seems doomed from the very beginning.
So they will play with fewer players. Anyway, getting a positive before the camp is even open is almost meaningless… it is not a reflection of the camp.
Tests are not 100% reliable, especially for recent contagions. You can very easily have a couple of infected players unnoticedly travelling to Orlando, and then the whole bubble concept will burst. Then you have the Disney staff going in and out. And, in any event, the risk of gross injuries is gonna be quite high and the quality of play can be closer to Las Vegas summer league than to NBA standards. I might be wrong, but my bet is the season does not finish.
Of course you wrong, how can’t you be!
As much as we all miss sports, do we really need it? Honestly every sport should just scrap this year and wait till the next season starts. I know that sucks for several athletes in every sport, with ones maybe in their last year. I know its going to ruin career numbers for some but your health and families health is more important. Mike Trout is picking family over money and so are several others. I think more will follow