Danny Ainge says he believes Celtics will play Friday
Danny Ainge, the Celtics’ GM, is optimistic that his team can return to the court on Friday.
The Boston Celtics anticipate their unexpected weeklong break due to coronavirus-related issues to conclude on Friday. They are scheduled to play against the Orlando Magic at home.
In a radio interview on Thursday, Celtics general manager Danny Ainge expressed optimism about the team’s progress, saying “it looks like we’re moving in the right direction”. The Boston team saw three of their games, scheduled between Sunday and Wednesday, postponed due to some players testing positive for the virus and others being possibly exposed as indicated by contact tracing.
#NEBHInjuryReport continued (3/3):
Daniel Theis (Health & Safety Protocols) – QUESTIONABLE
Kemba Walker (Left Knee Injury Recovery) – OUT
Robert Williams (Health & Safety Protocols) – OUT— Boston Celtics (@celtics) January 14, 2021
Across the NBA, eight games have been postponed since Sunday. The NBA is also considering further postponements, including a game in Phoenix on Saturday and one in Washington on Sunday. Both the Suns and the Wizards were scheduled to play on Friday, but these games were also postponed due to contact tracing revealing that neither team would have the necessary eight players available as per NBA requirements.
Ainge expressed on 98.5 The Sports Hub that he believes all their players are in good form. He mentioned that some are currently undergoing contact tracing. He assured that all players are doing well and they are hopeful of playing a match the next day. However, he confirmed that 17 more tests need to be conducted before that happens.
Ainge added, “Given the current state of our society, you’re constantly on pins and needles for each of these tests.”
The Celtics last played on Jan. 8 in a game vs. the Wizards.
The NBA, which disclosed on Wednesday that 16 players tested positive for COVID-19 in the past week, is likely to face more tests.
Danny Ainge tells @Toucherandrich he believes the Celtics will return to play tomorrow https://t.co/7Q2YnwWxfg
— 98.5 The Sports Hub (@985TheSportsHub) January 14, 2021
The Associated Press has obtained a memo in which league officials have informed teams that they are considering additional game-day testing for players and referees. All teams across the 28 NBA cities have been instructed to explore local labs capable of swiftly processing PCR tests. If implemented, the additional tests would be carried out on the morning of the game and results would be expected no more than an hour before the start of the game.
The current protocol of the league includes daily PCR tests for coaches and players, with rapid tests being conducted on match days. The NBA informed teams that a determination regarding additional testing could potentially be reached by the weekend. The details of the league’s memo were initially reported by ESPN.
If Boston’s weeklong break concludes as scheduled on Friday, it would be the longest hiatus in the NBA this season. Assuming no further postponements on Thursday’s games, five teams – Portland, Philadelphia, Charlotte, Denver, and Indiana – would have participated in four games since the Celtics’ last game.
