NBA is Officially Back (Official Thread)

[douggood]

So this isn't really a bubble because they are allowing park employees to come in and out

Why couldn't they treat this as a 'ship cruise tour' and pay these employees an increase but tell them they have to stay in the bubble and cant leave.

The only thing that should be coming in and out are food deliveries. 1 truck, 2 guys - make them wear hazmat suits

Theoretically this should work especially if they are testing the players 3 times a week and sterilizing constantly.

there is a reason all the cruise ships run under the flag of another countries, to skip rules/regulations.

Disney employees are unionized. good luck convincing them to do the isolation. the same union that is pushing disney to delay opening the park as is.
and on a practical level, how many of the people can go into the bubble leaving family family behind for 3 months, some might be single parents, who looks after the kids etc.

just take some of the reasons players are opting out/having apprehensions over, and apply that to staff. staff that gets paid pittance compared to the players.

[Zeno]

So this isn't really a bubble because they are allowing park employees to come in and out

Why couldn't they treat this as a 'ship cruise tour' and pay these employees an increase but tell them they have to stay in the bubble and cant leave.

The only thing that should be coming in and out are food deliveries. 1 truck, 2 guys - make them wear hazmat suits

Theoretically this should work especially if they are testing the players 3 times a week and sterilizing constantly.

I'm not convinced, only because nothing like this has ever been attempted before. I'm not sure people appreciate the unprecedented nature of what the NBA is trying to do.

To me, the biggest issue is not the physical security and protection measures. It's the psychological aspect that concerns me. I have no doubt that the vast majority of NBA players will have no issues getting through this. But I similarly have no doubt that, for a small minority, that will not be the case.

We have roughly 300 players coming to Orlando. Of those 300, how many do you think have substance abuse issues? How many have anger management issues? How many are entitled millionaires who think the rules don't apply to them? 10? 20? More? I have no idea. But they will be there. And they will be powderkegs waiting to go off. Now ask how many other people inside the bubble may have similar issues? And that's just one set of potential obstacles.

That is why this all has the feel of something we will look back on and say, "it looked good on paper and it seemed like everything was going fine until X happened. How did we not see that coming?"

I think there is a good number of people here who felt that this idea is pretty much wishful thinking from the start. I'd estimate around 30% of the board. That was before the rise in cases in the surrounding area. They aren't sending them to the intentional space station and NBA players aren't trained astronauts. So many things have to go perfectly for such a long period of time that I just don't understand how people expect this to succeed. Obviously I hope I'm wrong. I have to admit that when the schedule got announced I began to get excited. I just hope that at least no permanent damage is done to someone's health. You probably won't be able to say that these guys would have been safer in the general population than in the bubble even if things go pretty horribly. That's how bad it is in the population but the NBA will wear this regardless if things turn tragic.

[WuTang_CMB]

So this isn't really a bubble because they are allowing park employees to come in and out

Why couldn't they treat this as a 'ship cruise tour' and pay these employees an increase but tell them they have to stay in the bubble and cant leave.

The only thing that should be coming in and out are food deliveries. 1 truck, 2 guys - make them wear hazmat suits

Theoretically this should work especially if they are testing the players 3 times a week and sterilizing constantly.

there is a reason all the cruise ships run under the flag of another countries, to skip rules/regulations.

Disney employees are unionized. good luck convincing them to do the isolation. the same union that is pushing disney to delay opening the park as is.
and on a practical level, how many of the people can go into the bubble leaving family family behind for 3 months, some might be single parents, who looks after the kids etc.

just take some of the reasons players are opting out/having apprehensions over, and apply that to staff. staff that gets paid pittance compared to the players.

The players are spoiled with tons of money and kings of their own world. The park employees are everyday hardworking people. My guess would be a raise in $ with living expenses paid for would be attractive to a lot of people, union or not.

[Dalek]

So this isn't really a bubble because they are allowing park employees to come in and out

Why couldn't they treat this as a 'ship cruise tour' and pay these employees an increase but tell them they have to stay in the bubble and cant leave.

The only thing that should be coming in and out are food deliveries. 1 truck, 2 guys - make them wear hazmat suits

Theoretically this should work especially if they are testing the players 3 times a week and sterilizing constantly.

I'm not convinced, only because nothing like this has ever been attempted before. I'm not sure people appreciate the unprecedented nature of what the NBA is trying to do.

To me, the biggest issue is not the physical security and protection measures. It's the psychological aspect that concerns me. I have no doubt that the vast majority of NBA players will have no issues getting through this. But I similarly have no doubt that, for a small minority, that will not be the case.

We have roughly 300 players coming to Orlando. Of those 300, how many do you think have substance abuse issues? How many have anger management issues? How many are entitled millionaires who think the rules don't apply to them? 10? 20? More? I have no idea. But they will be there. And they will be powderkegs waiting to go off. Now ask how many other people inside the bubble may have similar issues? And that's just one set of potential obstacles.

That is why this all has the feel of something we will look back on and say, "it looked good on paper and it seemed like everything was going fine until X happened. How did we not see that coming?"

I think there is a good number of people here who felt that this idea is pretty much wishful thinking from the start. I'd estimate around 30% of the board. That was before the rise in cases in the surrounding area. They aren't sending them to the intentional space station and NBA players aren't trained astronauts. So many things have to go perfectly for such a long period of time that I just don't understand how people expect this to succeed. Obviously I hope I'm wrong. I have to admit that when the schedule got announced I began to get excited. I just hope that at least no permanent damage is done to someone's health. You probably won't be able to say that these guys would have been safer in the general population than in the bubble even if things go pretty horribly. That's how bad it is in the population but the NBA will wear this regardless if things turn tragic.

I don't think the idea is flawed at all. Players can contract it but their health and age cohort are not likely to have major issues with COVID-19.

You cannot completely seal off these players from society because in December 2020 they plan to start a full season likely without a vaccine in place. This is a preview for the full season to come.

I think that there is a low likelihood of infections given the masks and other cleaning precautions taken. You will never have zero risk with anything, but you have to plan and run the show. It is like when the province started schools again in BC. You need to see what happens, make adjustments to prepare for the bigger plan in the fall and beyond.

[galeon110]

I just want to add that hidden in all this, is the fact that every single one of our games will be (correct me if I'm wrong) on their national television. We made it.

[beanbag]

Read on Twitter

Boy if this doesn't get you amped for some ball I don't know what will.

[AbC?]

I still think the NBA will be able to pull it off, even with cases in Florida surging.

[Ackshun]

Our boy Smitch a few days ago on NBA radio - "Porzingis is going to be the best player on that team".

Dumbass

[Dennis 37]

So this isn't really a bubble because they are allowing park employees to come in and out

Why couldn't they treat this as a 'ship cruise tour' and pay these employees an increase but tell them they have to stay in the bubble and cant leave.

The only thing that should be coming in and out are food deliveries. 1 truck, 2 guys - make them wear hazmat suits

Theoretically this should work especially if they are testing the players 3 times a week and sterilizing constantly.

there is a reason all the cruise ships run under the flag of another countries, to skip rules/regulations.

Disney employees are unionized. good luck convincing them to do the isolation. the same union that is pushing disney to delay opening the park as is.
and on a practical level, how many of the people can go into the bubble leaving family family behind for 3 months, some might be single parents, who looks after the kids etc.

just take some of the reasons players are opting out/having apprehensions over, and apply that to staff. staff that gets paid pittance compared to the players.

Money talks.

In Canada grocery stores kept staff in place by giving them more money.

You sit down with the union and say what type of financial incentive will make this work. But, of course, corporations in the US are profit first, scr** the workers at all times, so that is not going to happen.

They could do 5 week shifts. Come in and isolate for two, work for three and then leave. Overlap with others coming in for two weeks isolation, three weeks work, and then leaving. Sure it would cost money, but what is the cost to the NBA if the whole thing falls apart?

[JYD]

Read on Twitter

Boy if this doesn't get you amped for some ball I don't know what will.

Well, he's being honest. There are more important things than basketball, and being part of a 'hype train' in terms of pretending all is normal is more the league's job, not the players'.

This is what I was alluding to the other day. A lot of things are going on. It's hard to imagine everyone's heart is really in it, or not distracted at least. Not because they're not pros and passionate, but because they're human and anyone would feel the same way.

[beanbag]

Read on Twitter

Boy if this doesn't get you amped for some ball I don't know what will.

Well, he's being honest. There are more important things than basketball, and being part of a 'hype train' in terms of pretending all is normal is more the league's job, not the players'.

This is what I was alluding to the other day. A lot of things are going on. It's hard to imagine everyone's heart is really in it, or not distracted at least. Not because they're not pros and passionate, but because they're human and anyone would feel the same way.

Yeah, that's why I posted it. To demonstrate how flawed the notion of "well, if they want to play they'll play, and if they don't they'll sit out".

A lot of players are holding their nose and doing this in the name of money. I don't blame them for it.

[The Duke]

Read on Twitter

Boy if this doesn't get you amped for some ball I don't know what will.

Well, he's being honest. There are more important things than basketball, and being part of a 'hype train' in terms of pretending all is normal is more the league's job, not the players'.

This is what I was alluding to the other day. A lot of things are going on. It's hard to imagine everyone's heart is really in it, or not distracted at least. Not because they're not pros and passionate, but because they're human and anyone would feel the same way.

Yeah, that's why I posted it. To demonstrate how flawed the notion of "well, if they want to play they'll play, and if they don't they'll sit out".

A lot of players are holding their nose and doing this in the name of money. I don't blame them for it.

Only reason I go to work or still working, is in the name of money

[Dennis 37]

Read on Twitter

Boy if this doesn't get you amped for some ball I don't know what will.

Well, he's being honest. There are more important things than basketball, and being part of a 'hype train' in terms of pretending all is normal is more the league's job, not the players'.

This is what I was alluding to the other day. A lot of things are going on. It's hard to imagine everyone's heart is really in it, or not distracted at least. Not because they're not pros and passionate, but because they're human and anyone would feel the same way.

I know my heart isn't in it as a fan. I really don't care as much as I did before they shut the season down. I will watch every Raptor game and hope to win, but it is all so secondary to what is happening in society.

[gerrit4]

As a fan, I'm so torn by this. If it were up to me, I'd probably cancel the season. I'm worried we'll see a player's career derailed by COVID complications.

That said, I really miss ball. Before this, I was playing pick-up three days a week, and watching every Raptor game. So I'm definitely stoked to watch it again, even if I'm worried about it...

[hankscorpioLA]

The Nets just lost Taurean Prince.

Does anyone know what the plan is if a team can't field enough players?

[rocky_da_best]

The Nets just lost Taurean Prince.

Does anyone know what the plan is if a team can't field enough players?

We'll soon find out. I imagine the NBA will start scrambling and coming up with band aid solutions much like the MLS currently is.

[hankscorpioLA]

The Nets just lost Taurean Prince.

Does anyone know what the plan is if a team can't field enough players?

We'll soon find out. I imagine the NBA will start scrambling and coming up with band aid solutions much like the MLS currently is.

It's a different situation. Once teams are in the bubble there are limited options available.

[YelloC]

How would draft position work out if for example, teams play 6 games and the season is cancelled?
Could the Raptors tough schedule lead to a 1-5 record and jump our draft spot to 22?
I guess it would be a best worst case scenario since I’m feeling a 50/50 chance of the playoffs even starting.

[Basketball_Jones]

Having employees come and go every day in Florida seems like a big gap. I do like the idea of rotating groups coming and going weeks at a time. Either do this properly or not at all.

[agentzero2010]

I think they need to put more incentives in these games. Remove all teams that are 4 games out from the 8th seed and play 6 games to warm up (Portland, New Orleans, and Sacremento stays) and you can keep the same 8th seed play-in games (3 games out). The rest of the teams are put in a second bubble for a small tournament (11 teams).

Within the 11 teams, If you currently have the 8-11th worst record (your wizards, hornets, spurs) and you win the tournament you secure a top 3 pick (no worse than 3rd pick). If you are currently 5-7th worst record (bulls, Knicks, pistons) and you win the tournament you secure a top 2 pick. If you are currently 1-4th worst record and you win the tournament you receive the number 1 pick. You can cutout games from the "playoff bubble" and push the bad team to a smaller market, smaller city and still be able to televise those games. You still have your lottery selection, and you separate the lottery draft selection, the remaining 1st round, and 2nd round draft in 3 separate broadcasts.

I think this kind of format could work in a normal season too, the number of teams is arbitrary and you can adjust it however you like. maybe cut the regular season to 66 games. at the end of the season, if 8th and 9th seed are separated by less than 3 games, you have a PLAY-IN series. The rest of the teams are put in a LOTTERY SERIES. I think this adds incentives are "star players" to continue playing late in the season. You are still going to have bad teams that are going to tank because they want the best odds but this can hopefully deter teams from sitting their star players. Also this rewards good franchises a quicker path to rebuild or reload talent.

I think its a win-win proposition for all teams. What do you guys think?