NBA, union stiffen virus protocols; more games postponed

With five games called off this week already and more teams dealing with virus-related issues, NBA and National Basketball Players Association enacted additional rules Tuesday in hope of keeping season going safely.

For “at least next two weeks,” league and union said, players and team staff will have to remain at ir residence when in ir home markets and are prohibited from leaving ir hotels when on road — with exceptions primarily for practices and games.

“I'm all for anything we possibly can do to ramp up safety," said Miami coach Erik Spoelstra, whose team had NBA-minimum eight players in Philadelphia on Tuesday night, missing eight for COVID-related reasons and ar with injury. “Just because we want to proceed with our profession doesn't mean that re isn't a reality of what's going on in world. virus is still very much out re."

Utah's game in Washington on Wednesday was postponed because contact-tracing issues among Wizards meant y wouldn't have eight available players for that matchup. Orlando’s game in Boston on Wednesday is also off, third postponement since Sunday involving Celtics.

Boston's most recent list showed eight players as unavailable because y are adhering to NBA’s health and safety protocols, which means y eir tested positive or contact-tracing data showed y may have been exposed to someone who is positive.

“I'm for whatever NBA wants us to do," Washington coach Scott Brooks said.

All that is permitted in home markets, for w, is “to attend team-related activities at team facility or arena, exercise outside, or perform essential activities," league and union said. On road, team activities and emergencies are only allowable reasons for leaving hotels.

NBPA executive director Michele Roberts said “it would be irresponsible and unacceptable” to t seek better ways to keep players safe.

“ one wants to see more restrictions imposed," Roberts said. “ one also wants to see infection rate increase if re are steps we can take to mitigate risk. Our experts have concluded that se new procedures will add to our arsenal of weapons against virus."

new rules add to a challenging time in NBA, especially when dealing with mental strain of playing in a COVID-19 world. And flurry of virus-related issues in last few days have only made matters tougher.

“I feel like I'm living my life in a box," Portland guard Damian Lillard said. “I go to practice, I go back home, I don't go anywhere else."

When teams started testing in late vember prior to start of training camps, 48 players had positive COVID-19 tests. In last four weeks, league has anunced a total of only seven positive tests, part of reason NBA has t paused play.

“This is real life, COVID-19, and taking precautions and taking protocols seriously is most important thing,” Minnesota coach Ryan Saunders said.

Additional actions taken Tuesday include a new rule prohibiting any pregame meetings in locker rooms from lasting more than 10 minutes; when those meetings take place everyone must wear a mask.

Players have been told to limit on-court interactions with fellow players to elbow or fist bumps, with extended socializing. And when a player is subbed out of a game, he can sit in a “cool down chair” without a mask — but must put a mask on when he returns to bench and sits in his assigned seat.

re were at least 36 players in league dealing with virus-related issues or protocols when Tuesday began, based on information released by teams. That number went up in part because of Wizards' situation; it was t clear how many are affected re.

Most current player issues are believed to be related to contact tracing.

Contact tracing has gotten more high-tech in recent days, with a requirement that everyone wear an electronic device that tracks proximity to one ar. data from those devices is part of determination wher a player needs to quarantine because of possible exposure.

“I think thing that we’re all trying to figure out is when somebody does test positive, contact tracing, how does that work?” Chicago coach Billy Dovan said.

Counting two new postponements and ar on Dec. 23 between Oklahoma City and Houston, league has seen six games moved because of virus issues. Boston's game in Chicago on Tuesday was called off because of virus concerns, as was Dallas-New Orleans game on Monday and Heat-Celtics matchup in Boston on Sunday.

Dallas flew to Charlotte on Tuesday, indicating ir Wednesday game is on as scheduled. But Mavericks have five players out — four of m positive for virus, including three that have been isolating in Denver since weekend, team owner Mark Cuban said in an interview on Dallas radio station KTCK.

“My level of concern is high. ... In Dallas, and country in general, cases are going up t down," Cuban said.

But Cuban also believes re will be ways to get fans into arenas again this season.

“t just letting in 3,000, but as in 15,000, 20,000, before end of season,” Cuban said. “I mean, look, even if we just made it available to front-line workers and health-care workers to come in for free to fill stands because y’ve all been vaccinated, I’m cool with that.”