Four Nets players have joined forward Paul Millsap in the health and safety protocols, the team announced this morning. As Ian Begley of SNY.tv relays (via Twitter), LaMarcus Aldridge, DeAndre’ Bembry, Jevon Carter, and James Johnson have all entered the protocols and have been ruled out for Tuesday’s game vs. Toronto.
We don’t have information yet on whether any or all of the five Nets players in the protocols have tested positive for COVID-19. If they’ve registered a false positive or have been deemed close contacts of someone who tested positive, it’s possible they could be cleared later this week.
However, if they’ve all tested positive for the coronavirus, they’ll be sidelined for at least 10 days or until they can return two consecutive negative tests at least 24 hours apart. In that scenario, the Nets would be eligible to add multiple extra players via the hardship provision.
The Nets, who are also without Kyrie Irving and Joe Harris, will now find themselves a little shorthanded when they host the Raptors on Tuesday. They should have as many as 10 players available, but there are a few little-used rookies in that group, including David Duke, Kessler Edwards, and Day’Ron Sharpe.
Kevin Durant and James Harden will, of course, be leaned on heavily to carry the scoring load, assuming Durant plays — he’s listed as questionable due to right ankle soreness (Twitter link via Marc Stein).
The Nets aren’t the only New York team currently being affected by the health and safety protocols. The Knicks announced this morning (via Twitter) that rookie guard Quentin Grimes is out for Tuesday’s game vs. Golden State due to the protocols.
Grimes is the third Knick to enter the protocols within the last four days, joining RJ Barrett and Obi Toppin. It’s unfortunate timing for 2021’s No. 25 overall pick, who had his best game as a pro in his first career start on Sunday when he scored 27 points with seven 3-pointers vs. Milwaukee.
I guess Blake Griffin is going to get a chance to get his act together. He plays as hard as anyone, scraps for loose balls, and takes charges, but his shot has been MIA.
If these are coming from playing against other players the league should shut down for 2-3 days and test everyone 2x each day. If it is coming from non-playing social contact then players are destroying there own team’s chances by engaging in these activities. They need to realize that it is still a pandemic and just like last year, the virus is still actively seeking hosts regardless of their vaccination status. Time to raise vaccination requirement to “boostered” to reduce impacts on the league.
Do you work for Pfizer?
No just has common sense
The best way to make pharmaceutical companies rich is not getting the vaccine but getting hospitalized with COVID. You put way more money in their pockets than getting the vaccine and also end up with quite a medical bill.
I am a huge NBA fan and a huge fan of Science but, alas, I don’t even own pharmaceutical stocks.
A few thoughts about protocols. There are going to be a lot of young players who get more run than usual during this period- which is probably good for competitiveness and depth in the NBA. Omicron is going to single-handedly revive the careers of many veterans who otherwise might be sitting home. A lot more 10 day contracts, coincidentally the time period for quarantine on the protocols.
This new wave is just getting started. I doubt we will see a bubble again, but the season might see some unfamiliar lineups.
Vaccines obviously don’t work so why punish Irving? Follow the science they continually ignore… teams with 100 percent vaccinated getting multiple players with COVID.. wake up
That’s BS, so I don’t know why I’m acknowledging this. Vaccines are very effective against severity. They don’t eliminate the chance of getting infected.
They don’t stop you from getting it . Understand the facts. They just help you from getting it. lower your chances and if you do get it. You don’t get it as bad
How embarrassing it is to not know basic facts about how the vaccines work by this point. Just goes to show how little you care about things.
I wonder if the Nets are taking additional precautions with Aldridge given his previous health issues. I hope he stays well.
Have to wonder whether some of these cases have been fueled by the much faster spreading omicron variant.
In any event, things will probably get worse from here on out. Just the way it goes with such mutations and what not.
For the Nets in particular this may not be such a bad thing, as some of these dudes are old and could probably use a few games off anyway. Just hope none of them actually tested positive, especially in LA’s case.