The many ways coronavirus is hurting the NBA

Donald: The coronavirus is not the NBA’s friend. The situation is affecting the teams in negative ways, ways that affect the overall product.

Patrick: What're you saying? I mean, I get that COVID-19 isn’t on anyone’s friendly side, but in regard to the negative ways affecting the overall product, in what way?

Donald: Well, not only do a fair amount of teams have a few players confirmed with the virus, but the reports (underground) say there are quite a few more infected players than have been reported.

Patrick: What are some of those teams affected?

Donald: Well, Brooklyn is easily at the top of their game—at least in regard to the confirmed coronavirus cases. We know of Kevin Durant, Michael Beasley, DeAndre Jordan, Justin Anderson, Spencer Dinwiddie, Taurean Prince; now, mind you, the first three listed could lead a team as starters. Houston has its fair share of confirmed cases: Russell Westbrook, who’s back in action, but who appears slightly sluggish, Thabo Sefolosha, and Luc Mbah a Moute—didn’t think I could pronounce that, did you?

Patrick: (Laughing) I still don’t know if you can pronounce it correctly, because I don’t know how the heck to pronounce it! But, go on, sir.

Donald: Right! Denver has it really bad with its one confirmed case: Nikola Jokic. Dude is a beast.

Patrick: He is. What else you got? Give me some more negative that the NBA will eventually shed?

Donald: I like your confidence. Well, there are a couple of things I’ve noticed as this season gets moving. One, teams that are supposed to win are winning, and those that are not supposed to win are struggling to flip their script. I mean, even though better teams generally will win, the parity that is the NBA—generally, one or three teams that are truly championship material will cement it at the end. However, it seems as if during this COVID-19 period, there isn’t a ton of “any team could win this” vibes.

Patrick: Interesting.

Donald: Also, there seems to be less running up and down the court. My guess is that it’s due to the coronavirus. Because of the unconfirmed reports, the virus could be spreading, and it’s also possible that some may test “well.” Other reasons could fall on the isolation down in the Orlando bubble, isolating players from previously outside-thearena activities as well as from family and friends. This could eventually lead to a mental collapse of some sort…but I’m going to do my best to, simply, think best.

Patrick: Think that’s all that’s needed for this to get better? For us to “think best”?

Donald: Shoot, I wish that were all. No, I believe we need a task force, one that’ll get folks up to speed with what’s really going on. The NBA needs to better educate its players (and others caught in the vicinity) in regard to how the coronavirus is caught, spread and, hopefully eradicated from our lives.

Patrick: I get you a little bit. You're saying the NBA’s all right, but there needs to be a tightening of adherence to the policies that are in place?

Donald: Yeah, and it doesn’t help that we have a president who is incapable of providing useful guidance—shoot, for the NBA and/or us as an entire community. The man is simply not an effective communicator.

Patrick: Even if he did have the answer, do you believe we’d eventually get things right?

Donald: Nope. Sad, but true. And you know what? The tripped-out thing is that I’m still looking forward to this season.

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