The Celtics and Sixers have, at times this season, found themselves shorthanded due to the NBA’s health and safety protocols, which have required a number of players on both teams to quarantine for positive COVID-19 tests or contact tracing. Heading into their games on Wednesday and Friday of this week, both teams should be a little closer to whole.
As Tim Bontemps of ESPN details, Sixers center Joel Embiid, who missed Saturday’s game due to a sore right knee, is expected to be good to go on Wednesday, per head coach Doc Rivers. And while Seth Curry didn’t practice today, he’s in the final stages of the health and safety protocols and hasn’t yet been ruled out for Wednesday’s game, per Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link).
Meanwhile, Celtics head coach Brad Stevens said today that Kemba Walker‘s knee responded “great” after his season debut on Monday, and he practiced in full today (Twitter link via Bontemps). Robert Williams, who has been cleared following a positive COVID-19 test earlier this month, also practiced today, per Stevens, and will be available on Wednesday.
Still, the Celtics aren’t at full strength yet. Jayson Tatum and Carsen Edwards both remain in the health and safety protocols and won’t play on Wednesday, though Stevens left the door open for Tatum to return as soon as Friday (Twitter link via Bontemps).
Here’s more from around the Atlantic:
- John Hollinger of The Athletic expects the Nets to take their time filling their open roster spots so as not to unnecessarily increase their projected luxury tax bill, which is already substantial. Hollinger also suggests that promoting Reggie Perry from his two-way contract would be a good way to fill one of those slots, since Perry – a 2020 second-round pick – would only count for the prorated rookie minimum for cap and tax purposes.
- Raptors guard Patrick McCaw hasn’t played at all this season as he continues to recover from knee surgery, and it doesn’t sound like he’s close to returning. Head coach Nick Nurse said on Monday that he hoped McCaw would be much further along by this point, but the recovery progress has been slow (Twitter link via Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca).
- The Westchester Knicks – New York’s G League affiliate – issued a press release confirming the previously-reported hiring of Jaren Jackson Sr. as an assistant coach and announcing that Ryan Borges has been promoted to assistant general manager.
Jackson Sr. is quoted as saying he hopes to coach “sometime this season” and is “feeling great”.
Father of Jaren Jackson Jr?
Good hire
Why not hire LaVar Ball?
He is a friend of World Wide Wes
I get the idea of minimizing the luxury tax burden as a practical matter. Though Joe Tsai would not be hurt by the additional expense, it’s a common sense business practice. However, before Nic Claxton is healthy, Reggie Perry is not ready to be the primary backup at center. He should get experience in the G-League bubble. DeAndre Jordan has played well since Harden arrived but he should not be overloaded. Alex Len would be an adequate backup for the time being for the veteran’s minimum. He’s 7′, so he’d be the tallest Net and you can’t teach height.
Why exactly did Masai give McCaw’s USELESS ass 2 yrs 8 mil GUARANTEED?
Probably based on potential but it hasn’t worked out. He only looked good cuz he was on those Warriors teams.
And he got a 3rd ring with Toronto. How lucky can one guy get?
Safety protocols and injuries are really affecting this season. Seems it’s going to be doing it all yr. Teams who manage this best and their bench. Should have some success. I thought last yr the Lakers managed the Bubble better than most. And it helped them.
Exactly. Simmons and Embiid aren’t experiencing back tightness and knee soreness.
The Covid stuff is real but I highly question many injury reports around the league.