Woj: Some Players getting cold feet about playing in Orlando

[themoneyteam2]

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Woj > Shams

[LoveMyRaps]

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LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL
Kyrie prolly got that bum Nets cheerleader Theo Pinson to log onto the Zoom meeting under the name ''Donovan Mitchell''

''See we got stars from playoff teams that want to sit out too''

[thebigbird]

I truly do not understand the idea of sitting out because of "social justice." They can draw more attention to the cause if they're playing in the games than they would showing up to protests.

[thebigbird]

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Mitchell literally already had covid lol. There'd be no reason for him to sit out because of covid. It's probably just Kyrie making this all up.

[Jayt99]

Kyrie doing everything in his power to take one of the final few shots Lebron has at winning a title away

[HotRocks34]

The other thing with "having a stage" to talk about issues is that the stage is diminished right now.

It's one thing to talk about issues in an interview in a packed arena or a locker room filled with reporters. But because of Covid, you're going to get guys in a setting that looks like a local community college (5,000-seat place) with no fans and probably not many reporters. So the "stage" might actually cheapen the message rather than augment it.

I guess it's better than just doing another "Zoom video in the age of Covid" thing, but the optics aren't there. Maybe in a locker room shot, but definitely not in an empty arena that looks like you're playing at a practice facility or the YMCA.

Guys could produce their own videos that would look better than that.

[Zaschrona]

This generation of players is as soft as it gets.

[Duke4life831]

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Mitchell literally already had covid lol. There'd be no reason for him to sit out because of covid. It's probably just Kyrie making this all up.

Im all for bashing on Kyrie when he says something stupid (look at my last post). But kind of seems like a little bit of a stretch to hate on Kyrie on this one haha. Shams gets a report wrong, "Damn you Kyrie!!!"

[K For Three]

Not gonna lie, I am pretty far left myself and I am totally on board with what he means. I feel the same thing all the time too.

We do need changes.

IF he is genuine about this, he can't stop but has to stick to his word and try to help make change as a celebrity.

I tend to think they might get a better stage for their cause by playing on TV in front of millions.

That said between concerns over COVID and now this I can't do anything but support and respect it.

Respect to Kyrie...even if it pains me to really take his side .

lol I got no idea what is going on or how it might end ultimately, but this is entertaining to hear with all these different sides.

Crazy times right now in the country.

[Mike1989]

Not gonna lie, I am pretty far left myself and I am totally on board with what he means. I feel the same thing all the time too.

We do need changes.

IF he is genuine about this, he can't stop but has to stick to his word and try to help make change as a celebrity.

There absolutely needs to be changes in society. America has turned there back and closed there eyes to police brutality, social injustices and ignored very real racism for far too long. There’s absolutely no debate about that from anyone with any sort of rational, compassion, intelligence or morality.

The disconnect Is - how does that have anything to do with the nba playing basketball? these are issues that need gigantic leaps to happen and now in America there is real momentum in a positive way but how does him coming back to his profession put those things on hold? He’s not even playing.

The whole “20 of us make money comment” does he mean real max money? like a player making 1,2,3-10 million isn’t real money? there’s people out on the front lines of protests working 2 full time jobs to make ends meet and still finding a way to get the message across.

I don’t understand why you wouldn’t use the global platform of the nba to echo that black lives matter.

It doesn’t make sense. If Kyrie and other stars went on strike and said “we aren’t playing until social justice is achieved”, then do they truly believe that will force the hand of politicians? Or will the politicians still drag their feet? I suspect the latter is more likely than the former. The politicians will do what’s in their best interest like they always do.

But this comes down to the old adage, if you don’t want the job someone else will. If he doesn’t play then that opens up opportunities for someone else. Those that want to play and use that platform to help the cause will do exactly that. Those who just want to play will do exactly that. So Kyrie needs to have a little rethink on strategy and how he presents his argument because currently it’s not easy to see a clear strategy.

[bondom34]

Not gonna lie, I am pretty far left myself and I am totally on board with what he means. I feel the same thing all the time too.

We do need changes.

IF he is genuine about this, he can't stop but has to stick to his word and try to help make change as a celebrity.

I tend to think they might get a better stage for their cause by playing on TV in front of millions.

That said between concerns over COVID and now this I can't do anything but support and respect it.

Respect to Kyrie...even if it pains me to really take his side .

lol I got no idea what is going on or how it might end ultimately, but this is entertaining to hear with all these different sides.

Crazy times right now in the country.

I just hope it gets better. If these guys have the will and desire to really do this for a worthy cause, really can't do anything but respect it personally.

[G R E Y]

^ That said, that this wasn't taken to a full vote of every player is sketchy. I wonder if there was concern among the top players that the vote would be closer and the optics worse?

Not voting is moot. What’s the endgame here? Say the season is canceled—does it resume in the Fall when COVID spikes again? Should every season be canceled until COVID is eradicated?

Kyrie’s willing to die on a hill until “systemic racism” is gone; but, what does that mean? It’s like he’s holding the NBA hostage for not being able to fix issues well outside of the league’s scope. I’m all for standing up for social reforms, when warranted, but again, what’s the endgame here? Kyrie is just yelling for change while lacking a strategy, plan, and action.

Not to the players from the recent feedback, though. I suppose now that there is a conflation of both the second wave (while the first isn't done) of the virus coupled with the protests that some players felt was an added issue to wrestle with, they are voicing their concerns.

I don't think that A=Z thinking works here - if the season gets canceled now does not mean the worst case scenario of waiting until Covid is eradicated. Rather, responding in real time and being prepared for as many eventualities as possible is the name of the game, but along the way, that some voices were glossed over - that move in and of itself has an air of pushing things through for expediency or something, like the top players didn't want the blowback. Well part of the league being more player-centric means more players have a voice. This can't be ignored as players and staff who make significantly less arguably stand to lose more should they fill in for a guy who can afford to not play and then get sick or get someone else sick.

The end game to me should first and foremost be health. And to that end, waiting until the second wave has had its run would be optimal OR play in a place that is far safer; I tongue-in-cheek suggested New Zealand or Australia, but considering NZ just had a big 'we beat Covid' celebration, it's not so preposterous. But the NBA has serious financial concerns, and I do think they're pushing up against the stated 'health is primary' position. There is a lot to figure out, and not a lot of time in which to do it, and it coming out that some players' concerns were not well represented before the vote happened only slows things further.

[C3H6N6O6]

NBA players should stop playing till African-Americans have the same average salary as a white person.

This will take a lot of time so I guess no NBA for next 10 years at least.

[TheNewEra]

I truly do not understand the idea of sitting out because of "social justice." They can draw more attention to the cause if they're playing in the games than they would showing up to protests.

The eyes will be on the sports rather than the issue even the counter arguments. Even Dave Chappelle trending special said Kobe going for 60 took his mind away for the time from killings. At a some point even with the platform people will either turn off the players wait for the next game or tell them to protest on their own time or shut up and dribble

[infinite11285]

^ That said, that this wasn't taken to a full vote of every player is sketchy. I wonder if there was concern among the top players that the vote would be closer and the optics worse?

Not voting is moot. What’s the endgame here? Say the season is canceled—does it resume in the Fall when COVID spikes again? Should every season be canceled until COVID is eradicated?

Kyrie’s willing to die on a hill until “systemic racism” is gone; but, what does that mean? It’s like he’s holding the NBA hostage for not being able to fix issues well outside of the league’s scope. I’m all for standing up for social reforms, when warranted, but again, what’s the endgame here? Kyrie is just yelling for change while lacking a strategy, plan, and action.

Not to the players from the recent feedback, though. I suppose now that there is a conflation of both the second wave (while the first isn't done) of the virus coupled with the protests that some players felt was an added issue to wrestle with, they are voicing their concerns.

I don't think that A=Z thinking works here - if the season gets canceled now does not mean the worst case scenario of waiting until Covid is eradicated. Rather, responding in real time and being prepared for as many eventualities as possible is the name of the game, but along the way, that some voices were glossed over - that move in and of itself has an air of pushing things through for expediency or something, like the top players didn't want the blowback. Well part of the league being more player-centric means more players have a voice. This can't be ignored as players and staff who make significantly less arguably stand to lose more should they fill in for a guy who can afford to not play and then get sick or get someone else sick.

The end game to me should first and foremost be health. And to that end, waiting until the second wave has had its run would be optimal OR play in a place that is far safer; I tongue-in-cheek suggested New Zaaland or Australia, but considering NZ just had big 'we beat Covid' celebration, it's not so preposterous. But the NBA has serious financial concerns, and I do think they're pushing up against the stated 'health is primary' position. There is a lot to figure out, and not a lot of time in which to do it, and it coming out that some players' concerns were not well represented before the vote happened only slows things further.

Great points, but, is a league wide player vote an agreed upon stipulation of the current CBA? Something tells me it isn't, because the NBA wouldn't just violate not holding a vote. If the NBA isn't required to hold a vote, then arguing about not having a vote is moot.

I agree the end game should be to maintain the health of the NBA's players, staff, and associated partners, but it sounds like Kyrie's primary beef involves ending systemic racism. There's no correlation between the league resuming play, and accomplishing the abolishment of systemic racism. I feel like I'm missing some material information, because Kyrie's demands don't appear to be attainable regardless if the season resumes or not.

[RoLo]

those that think restarting and using their platform for change is more powerful than sitting is fooling themselves. yeah, maybe back in the 80s that sh*t wouldve worked. not today. a generation borne of materialistic consumption. the biggest reason why this protest has been so meaningful this year was because of the coronavirus ppl are out of work, out of sports, out of things to do. dont kid youself thinking that THIS killing was the one that was the straw that broke the camel's back. its a combination of everything, but mostly because theres never been a more appropirate time than now to address this as ppl, for a lack of a better phrase, have more time to focus on other priorities. yeah, for most people social equality is important, but not over their careers, their jobs, their familial responsibilities. once u restart the season u lose that edge. and the conversation isnt about what can we do but what Lebron and co. did last night against his nemesis Kawhi. Starting up and kneeling does absolutely nothing at this point. Nothing they do while playing will be more effective than off the court. we're in an age where their platforms are outside of actual games. its beautiful to seem them actually use it.

[MagicBagley18]

I truly do not understand the idea of sitting out because of "social justice." They can draw more attention to the cause if they're playing in the games than they would showing up to protests.

The eyes will be on the sports rather than the issue even the counter arguments. Even Dave Chappelle trending special said Kobe going for 60 took his mind away for the time from killings. At a some point even with the platform people will either turn off the players wait for the next game or tell them to protest on their own time or shut up and dribble

Is that a bigger issue than just the nba though? complacency? there needs to be a change and there’s real momentum now to do so but if people are going to stop listening About social issues and protesting against the real systemic racism that happens bc of nba basketball- doesn’t that say more about society as a whole? And if there wasn’t a season would complacency still set in?

[NY 567]

I guess we're just going to wind up cowering in fear indefinitely. Honestly, just cancel basketball until a vaccine comes out or until everyone grows up. What's the point of some half assed thing that's going to inevitably be shut down or rendered irrelevant because important players wind up testing positive. It's here, it's not going away. Do we just cower forever? Hundreds of thousands of people were just protesting, ignoring social distancing rules, but a couple of hundred players can't play a childrens game?

[thebigbird]

I truly do not understand the idea of sitting out because of "social justice." They can draw more attention to the cause if they're playing in the games than they would showing up to protests.

The eyes will be on the sports rather than the issue even the counter arguments. Even Dave Chappelle trending special said Kobe going for 60 took his mind away for the time from killings. At a some point even with the platform people will either turn off the players wait for the next game or tell them to protest on their own time or shut up and dribble

The protests are already on their way out of the news cycle though. They're back to Coronavirus now for the most part.

[djsunyc]

I guess we're just going to wind up cowering in fear indefinitely. Honestly, just cancel basketball until a vaccine comes out or until everyone grows up. What's the point of some half assed thing that's going to inevitably be shut down or rendered irrelevant because important players wind up testing positive. It's here, it's not going away. Do we just cower forever? Hundreds of thousands of people were just protesting, ignoring social distancing rules, but a couple of hundred players can't play a childrens game?

protests were voluntary.