2021 NBA: Ongoing Covid-19 Impact

radsoxfan

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Vaccine is probably the way to go if they can pull it off. Though at this rate we could be headed towards immunity by natural infection for some of these teams soon.

500 doses isn’t going to cut it with 2 doses per person but something in the range of 1000-2000
probably will, depending on how they want to deal with coaches, refs, etc.

It’s think it’s a little different than the testing situation though, wasn’t the NBA claiming they were basically paying for extra lab space and testing that wouldn’t have occurred otherwise? At this point, vaccines are a finite resource.

It would be nice if they could somehow turn it into some public service messaging about vaccine safety. That alone would be worth a couple thousand doses probably.
 

NomarsFool

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While NBA players aren't the highest risk group, for sure, I would be willing to bet that for every NBA player that receives the vaccine, hundreds if not thousands of actual at risk individuals would be willing to take it that otherwise would refuse. So, it's a good investment, in my opinion.
 

Kliq

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The NBA has only released a schedule for teams up until March 4. The idea was that they were going to have to reschedule games, so they have the maximum amount of flexibility for the second half of the season in order to get in games that were postponed during the first half of the season. They were fully prepared to have to postpone some games if there was a breakout on a team, so I doubt think they are really panicking about the recent outbreak.
 

radsoxfan

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Maybe not panicking, but they are going to likely have to make some changes.

If 1 or 2 true positive cases positives leads to 7 or 8 players out for multiple days, that's not too sustainable in a sport with this many games and rosters this size. Current community spread will make it a major a challenge to limit positive cases setting off this chain reaction.

At minimum, they are going to have to really focus on limiting close contacts whenever possible.

Or just encourage a few high profile superstars (Lebron for sure) to have a primetime show promoting the vaccine and getting vaccinated. In exchange they can have 2000 doses and call it a day.
 

johnmd20

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It's not the best press, but I think it's fine at this point to vaccinate players. I was initially against this, thinking it would be bad/wrong to have healthy 20/30 year olds skip the line, but their profession (argue it's not essential, fine) has them in close contact with lots of people, traveling regularly, and we've totally botched the rollout to this point that I don't think it's bad to dig up ~1000 doses to just get it done. There's also the economic impact; there are plenty of jobs beyond the players that rely on sports (again, fair to argue it's not essential, but the point remains).
They are essential enough.

It's crazy that vaccines are out there just not being used and people are worried about the PR hit for the NBA to vaccinate. Just do it, it isn't that many people relative to the size of the country. There is no PR hit, these guys are entertainers and part of trudging through the pandemic is that we have actually had sports to watch. That, to me, makes them essential.(ever if it's essential to 8% of the population)

I do not get the outrage. This is a billion dollar industry that could be helped significantly by the vaccines. If vaccinating the restaurant industry was as easy as doing the NBA, they would be doing it already. Get the damn thing into arms!
 

sezwho

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They are essential enough.

It's crazy that vaccines are out there just not being used and people are worried about the PR hit for the NBA to vaccinate. Just do it, it isn't that many people relative to the size of the country. There is no PR hit, these guys are entertainers and part of trudging through the pandemic is that we have actually had sports to watch. That, to me, makes them essential.(ever if it's essential to 8% of the population)

I do not get the outrage. This is a billion dollar industry that could be helped significantly by the vaccines. If vaccinating the restaurant industry was as easy as doing the NBA, they would be doing it already. Get the damn thing into arms!
Seriously. The amount of money each game pumps into the coffers is so valuable that they just could donate X% of revenue to Covid relief and step the line so everyone wins.
 

PseuFighter

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It could be spun into good PR if they make the point that the athletes got the vaccine and so should you.
 

joe dokes

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They are essential enough.

It's crazy that vaccines are out there just not being used and people are worried about the PR hit for the NBA to vaccinate. Just do it, it isn't that many people relative to the size of the country. There is no PR hit, these guys are entertainers and part of trudging through the pandemic is that we have actually had sports to watch. That, to me, makes them essential.(ever if it's essential to 8% of the population)

I do not get the outrage. This is a billion dollar industry that could be helped significantly by the vaccines. If vaccinating the restaurant industry was as easy as doing the NBA, they would be doing it already. Get the damn thing into arms!
There would be some pretty hot takes from the "shut up and dribble" crowd of racists.
 

wade boggs chicken dinner

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To answer people's questions on close contacts, the Athletic has obtained a copy of the NBA's protocols and wrote an article about it. Two takeaways.

(1) NBA generally follows CDC guidelines for "close contact". Protocol language here:

Consistent with current CDC guidance, close contacts are defined as any individual who (a) has been within six feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period (i.e., consecutively all at once or in multiple separate time blocks), starting from two days before illness onset for symptomatic individuals, and two days before specimen collection for asymptomatic individuals or (b) had direct contact with infectious secretions or excretions of the infected individual (e.g., being coughed on or bare-handed palm- to-palm handshakes or hugs).
and

Data are limited, making it difficult to precisely define “close contact;” however, 15 cumulative minutes of exposure at a distance of 6 feet or less [over a 24-hour period] can be used as an operational definition for contact investigation. Factors to consider when defining close contact include proximity (closer distance likely increases exposure risk), the duration of exposure (longer exposure time likely increases exposure risk), whether the infected individual has symptoms (the period around onset of symptoms is associated with the highest levels of viral shedding), if the infected person was likely to generate respiratory aerosols (e.g., was coughing, singing, shouting), and other environmental factors (crowding, adequacy of ventilation, whether exposure was indoors or outdoors).

(2) NBA apparently discounts heavily potential on-court spread. So Beal was a CC of JT because of a post-game hug, not because they were guarding each other often.
 

OurF'ingCity

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NBA just announced new Covid protocols for "at least" the next two weeks (https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/nba-covid-19-new-protocols-rules). Players can only leave their homes or hotels for team-related activities, pre-game locker room meetings limited to 10 minutes (with masks), no hugs or "extended social time" with other players. Seems like theater for the most part - ultimately if you have a sport played indoors where people are congregating before, during, and after the game (and other things like practices and team flights), there is just not going to be any way to avoid Covid short of a bubble or mass vaccination.
 

BaseballJones

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Especially when they're spending 48 minutes in incredibly close contact, breathing heavily on one another from a couple of feet away.
 

NomarsFool

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Players can only leave their homes or hotels for team-related activities
Can they just impose this without the players agreeing?

pre-game locker room meetings limited to 10 minutes (with masks),
This just seems silly to me. They are spending lots of time with the people on the team (including coaches). The team is basically "the bubble" and you have to assume that if someone on the team gets COVID, others are going to get it. The only thing you can do is try and prevent anyone on the team from getting it from outside "the bubble".
 

Imbricus

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Especially when they're spending 48 minutes in incredibly close contact, breathing heavily on one another from a couple of feet away.
Yeah, the NBA's "close contact" Covid rules make absolutely no sense. How can you label someone "close contact" if he spent 15 minutes, maskless, with an infected player in a car, but not label him "close contact" after he's been banging into an infected player for rebounds, offensive fouls, in a live game?

It's obvious though why the NBA created the nonsensical rules that way. If they counted games as close contact, the whole league would get shut down really fast.
 

radsoxfan

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6 positive for the Wizards (9 total in protocol). Hard to believe anyone is NOT in protocol given 6 positives.

See ya in a couple weeks.
 

DGreenwood

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6 positive for the Wizards (9 total in protocol). Hard to believe anyone is NOT in protocol given 6 positives.

See ya in a couple weeks.
Is this all because Tatum hugged Beal? Or maybe all the double teams they threw at Tatum? The NBA competitive landscape has added the element of NBC warfare into the equation.
 

radsoxfan

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Is this all because Tatum hugged Beal? Or maybe all the double teams they threw at Tatum? The NBA competitive landscape has added the element of NBC warfare into the equation.
Unless they do some viral genetic analysis they won't really know who caught it from who.

Any of the Wizards could have gotten it in the community and spread it to the rest of the team that way too, who knows.

Could be bubble time soon.... or just expand the rosters to 20 and hope for the best.
 

johnmd20

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Unless they do some viral genetic analysis they won't really know who caught it from who.

Any of the Wizards could have gotten it in the community and spread it to the rest of the team that way too, who knows.

Could be bubble time soon.... or just expand the rosters to 20 and hope for the best.
In the short term, it's hard to figure how the NBA soldiers ahead. Baseball pulled it off but that was the summer and the numbers were *significantly* lower. And we're dealing with a more contagious strain, too. The numbers are very poor for the NBA over the last 10 days.

I am in full support of the NBA players getting vaccines. The vaccine rollout is a disaster anyway and nobody knows nothing about what is happening because our government is run by children, so give these guys some damn vaccines.
 

BigSoxFan

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For anyone who doesn't know, Covid has hit KAT far harder than anyone else in the NBA. He's had at least 7 family members (including his mom) die from Covid.
Yeah, this is really sad. Hope he kicks COVID’s ass.
 

Time to Mo Vaughn

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In the short term, it's hard to figure how the NBA soldiers ahead. Baseball pulled it off but that was the summer and the numbers were *significantly* lower. And we're dealing with a more contagious strain, too. The numbers are very poor for the NBA over the last 10 days.

I am in full support of the NBA players getting vaccines. The vaccine rollout is a disaster anyway and nobody knows nothing about what is happening because our government is run by children, so give these guys some damn vaccines.
Also an outdoor sport where there is significantly more distancing. Seems hard to imagine that if a player played a game with covid that it wasn't guaranteed for them to not infect someone else on the court.
 

Jed Zeppelin

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In the short term, it's hard to figure how the NBA soldiers ahead. Baseball pulled it off but that was the summer and the numbers were *significantly* lower. And we're dealing with a more contagious strain, too. The numbers are very poor for the NBA over the last 10 days.

I am in full support of the NBA players getting vaccines. The vaccine rollout is a disaster anyway and nobody knows nothing about what is happening because our government is run by children, so give these guys some damn vaccines.
Vaccines for NBA players are a drop in the bucket. If we can vaccinate smokers as high priority (no offense to any smokers), we can vaccinate a few hundred NBA players who bring pleasure to an audience of millions.
 

TripleOT

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Vaccines for NBA players are a drop in the bucket. If we can vaccinate smokers as high priority (no offense to any smokers), we can vaccinate a few hundred NBA players who bring pleasure to an audience of millions.
There would also be PR value in seeing widespread acceptance of the vaccine from the players, who are influencers.
 

Imbricus

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Yeah, vaccinate these guys already. There are plenty of reasons: 1. They're role models 2. They can do PSAs urging other people to get vaccines, to "pay" for getting vaccines a little early 3. They provide entertainment that makes it easier for the rest of us to stay inside, without going stir crazy, and wait for our vaccines 4. We're expecting them to play a sport where they're always bumping up against a bunch of strangers, who are breathing hard, coughing. 5. All the travel they do puts them at higher risk of catching the virus.

Yeah, of course, vaccinate the health workers first, but you can make a decent argument for vaccinating the NBA players soon. The NBA is probably just worried about blowback.
 

Dahabenzapple2

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Yeah, vaccinate these guys already. There are plenty of reasons: 1. They're role models 2. They can do PSAs urging other people to get vaccines, to "pay" for getting vaccines a little early 3. They provide entertainment that makes it easier for the rest of us to stay inside, without going stir crazy, and wait for our vaccines 4. We're expecting them to play a sport where they're always bumping up against a bunch of strangers, who are breathing hard, coughing. 5. All the travel they do puts them at higher risk of catching the virus.

Yeah, of course, vaccinate the health workers first, but you can make a decent argument for vaccinating the NBA players soon. The NBA is probably just worried about blowback.
Vaccinate the players already

WTF

Get over your fear of being criticized, Adam - get it done through whatever channels you need to take. Get your statement/approach done already. Pretty simple - the players and coaches, etc are a very small number yet the travel and contact they have is multiples more than 95% of the population.

Silver usually excels at this sort of thing. Get it done.
 

Dahabenzapple2

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Yeah, vaccinate these guys already. There are plenty of reasons: 1. They're role models 2. They can do PSAs urging other people to get vaccines, to "pay" for getting vaccines a little early 3. They provide entertainment that makes it easier for the rest of us to stay inside, without going stir crazy, and wait for our vaccines 4. We're expecting them to play a sport where they're always bumping up against a bunch of strangers, who are breathing hard, coughing. 5. All the travel they do puts them at higher risk of catching the virus.

Yeah, of course, vaccinate the health workers first, but you can make a decent argument for vaccinating the NBA players soon. The NBA is probably just worried about blowback.
Their was blow back when congress got them - imagine the videos of Lebron or Giannis getting vaccines and if 80 or 90% agreed - it’s a plus, not a minus from a PR standpoint if it’s done right. I simply do not understand the hesitancy. A huge part of the population that is hesitant are portions of the African American community. For sure some could be influenced by Lebron et al. agreeing and encouraging those who are hesitant to get vaccinated when we have vaccines for everyone within the next few months.

I just do not understand what they are waiting for.
 

Cellar-Door

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One thing you guys are assuming, that many beat writers say is not is this.....

That guys would get vaccinated if they could. There is a significant anti-vax contingent among the players, and when the time comes that is going to be an issue.
 

NomarsFool

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One thing you guys are assuming, that many beat writers say is not is this.....

That guys would get vaccinated if they could. There is a significant anti-vax contingent among the players, and when the time comes that is going to be an issue.
Yeah, that's the challenge (Silver may have some inside info here). I believe that if a large % of NBA players were to get vaccinated, it would be extremely helpful from a public health perspective in encouraging others to be vaccinated. However, there is also a potential impact if the % who get vaccinated isn't really high. What is the threshold for help vs. harm? I don't know. If 90% of players get vaccinated, will that be reassuring? What if it is only 70%?

Second question, would the NBA treat players who refuse any differently? I'd assume not.
 

HomeRunBaker

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One thing you guys are assuming, that many beat writers say is not is this.....

That guys would get vaccinated if they could. There is a significant anti-vax contingent among the players, and when the time comes that is going to be an issue.
Not if Chris Paul and the owners make it a non-issue with one signature. Individual players cannot control what a union agrees on with the league. Non-issue imo.
 

NomarsFool

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There is less than zero chance that the union agrees to mandate that all players get vaccinated.
 

PC Drunken Friar

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HomeRunBaker

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Looks like they have some more. 4 players test positive. 5 games PPD.

Charlotte has their next 2 PPD while they undergo contact tracing (they played on Sunday).

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/30911667/next-three-san-antonio-spurs-games-postponed-four-players-test-positive-covid-19
I’m surprised the league is doing so well in this regard with all the travel, players not adhering to guidelines, etc. The NHL has been having a handful of games cancelled every night so comparatively speaking Silver and Co. are handling this better than I anticipated.
 

NomarsFool

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It's a shame they didn't take the opportunity of the All Star break to get a huge bolus of players vaccinated. It's going to be a bit challenging during the regular season, as some number of players are going to be a bit under the weather after getting vaccinated - so they'll probably have to do it in waves by team.
 

ElUno20

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It's a shame they didn't take the opportunity of the All Star break to get a huge bolus of players vaccinated. It's going to be a bit challenging during the regular season, as some number of players are going to be a bit under the weather after getting vaccinated - so they'll probably have to do it in waves by team.
There was a story recently about star players not wanting to participate in campaigns that would go a long way push vaccine acceptance in minority communities. It's really fucking disappointing
 

lovegtm

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There was a story recently about star players not wanting to participate in campaigns that would go a long way push vaccine acceptance in minority communities. It's really fucking disappointing
It turns out that many of those players are from those same communities, and share their beliefs/values. Not sure why this is a shock.