Daily NBA News for July 3, 2020
2020-07-03 10:00:00 EDT
Here’s your daily roundup of all the current NBA news that’s affecting the 2019-20 season restart. Today we’ve got some player notes and tidbits from around the league, so let’s jump right in with the latest NBA updates. Check back all season long for free NBA picks and NBA predictions at Sports Chat Place.
A Second Bubble? – According to reports over the last day or so, the NBA is considering implementing a second “bubble” in Chicago for the eight teams excluded from the Orlando restart.
If it even happens, there’s obviously no concrete word on how many teams and players would opt to participate in a separate bubble, as the league’s bottom-tier teams generally don’t have much to gain from playing out the season. Golden State GM Bob Myers said Thursday that the Warriors would potentially participate in an idea like that, but even if it happens don’t expect to see Steph Curry; he only got one game under his belt this season after returning from a wrist injury. The recently-healed Klay Thompson (ACL) in all likelihood wouldn’t play either. Honestly, this idea doesn’t seem like it’ll get off the ground.
DeRozan Speaks Up – Spurs star DeMar DeRozan made some comments this week about his frustrations with the NBA’s health and safety guidelines for its restart, calling aspects of the league’s plan “ridiculous.”
To his credit, DeRozan does make perfect sense here. He spoke specifically about a rule in the NBA health guidelines that forbids players from playing doubles ping-pong. DeRozan contrasted this rule with the constant contact of an actual NBA game and called trying to read the rules handbook “frustrating and overwhelming.”
DeRozan isn’t alone with his outlook. Bradley Beal made comments along those same lines this week, and alluded to the mental health aspect of being quarantined for upwards of three months. Beal lamented being “constrained and restricted,” and his sentiments are likely shared by a wide swath of NBA players, at least in some respects.
Kemba Walker Health Update – We’ll finish up today with a visit to Boston and Kemba Walker, who is recovering from knee issues that torpedoed his spring numbers on the court. Walker said the shutdown break was “super important” for his knee recovery and overall health, and expressed comfort with the schedule and his body in general.
This season, Walker appeared in 50 games, averaging 21.2 PPG, 4.9 APG and a 37.7 3-point percentage in 31.8 minutes. He’ll be an integral part of the Celtics’ potential success when basketball gets going again, and that team could do some real damage in the East. Boston currently sits at No. 3 in the Eastern Conference, 2.5 games ahead of the Heat and three games behind the Raptors. Realistically no one is going to catch the Bucks at 53-12, but the Nos. 2 and 3 seeds should be an intense battle.
Adding to the intrigue is the Raptors’ difficult restart schedule. Toronto will start off with a matchup versus the Lakers, then has to face the Heat, Celtics, Bucks and Sixers mixed in among the remaining games. Should be a fun conclusion to the slate.
