For the time being, only five teams – the Jazz, Pelicans, Magic, Rockets, and Grizzlies – are continuing with their plans to have some fans in arenas when the regular season begins, sources tell David Aldridge of The Athletic.
The Mavericks and Heat each confirmed today that they won’t have fans for their preseason games, per Brad Townsend of The Dallas Morning News (Twitter link) and Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald. Miami also won’t host fans for its Christmas Day game, as Chiang notes.
Here are a few more odds and ends from around the basketball world:
- The NBA intends to administer a daily point-of-care, rapid coronavirus testing system for the 2020/21 season, according to Shams Charania and Fred Katz of The Athletic (Twitter links). Those tests would return results within 30 minutes in teams’ home markets and within 90 minutes on the road. In the event of invalid results, the player would undergo another rapid test at least 30 minutes after the first one and could participate in team activities while awaiting the result, sources tell The Athletic.
- Veteran forward Wilson Chandler is expected to leave Zhejiang Guangsha, his team in China, a source tells Sportando. Chandler, who finished the 2019/20 season with Brooklyn, signed to play in the Chinese Basketball Association in the fall. It’s unclear whether or not his reported exit is related to an NBA opportunity.
- ESPN’s Jonathan Givony and Mike Schmitz have published their first list of the top 100 prospects for the 2021 NBA draft. Oklahoma State point guard Cade Cunningham leads the way, followed by USC’s Evan Mobley and Jalen Green of the G League Ignite.
- Speaking of Green and the Ignite, they’re scheduled to scrimmage on December 15 and 17 against a group of veteran G Leaguers, according to Givony (all Twitter links). It’s unclear whether or not those games will be streamed, but NBA teams will get access to the film, according to Givony, who says Isaiah Briscoe, Tariq Owens, and Bryce Alford will be among the vets scrimmaging against the Ignite.
Test
It’s still going to be spooky with half empty arenas. Are they going to fill the rest of the seats with cardboard cutouts? I think that’s at least better then an empty seat. I also liked the digital fans over nothing.
Are they going to administer tests to these fans or just take temperatures like the failed school system? Having to wipe down an entire arena is going to be tedious. They are bound to miss spots. I would require gloves by fans as well.
Plus, people don’t seem to remember your wet eyeballs collect air floaties all day long. Shop glasses or regular glasses aren’t a bad idea either. Think of it as 3D glasses to wear at a 3D movie. Maybe they could introduce some cool 3D light shows at timeouts and half time?
I have a rant about promised wipedowns.
Seems like a lot of the teams have half empty arenas normally anyway
I thought they would mention Gilbert Arenas? Misleading…
The Gilbert Arenas is undergoing construction,expected to open in 2022.
Amazing how when someone says Arenas, I think of John Wall. I project a similar sad ending to his career.
Your projection is incorrect. Wall’s looking fantastic in Houston.
I wood expect Wall to kind of cool off with age, despite early gang affiliations. He did move to Texas though!— About as broad a change as there is, from DC.
The few fans who will lucky enough to attend Rockets games won’t be disappointed.
The sky is the limit for the NBA’s next dynasty here in Houston! Have fun watching!
You as well! Glad you’re such a fan of your team! Helps make it more fun for everyone. =)