The NBA is still grappling with how best to handle the coronavirus, acknowledging the possibility of games being played without fans in the arena. If that does prove to be a reality, Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens hopes the league moves some of the game times up earlier in the day:
The league plans to host a conference call with team owners and doctors on Monday, according to ESPN NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski. They will also have until Tuesday to present their own plans for fighting the coronavirus:
The league wants teams to make sure each has a plan for scaled-down team traveling parties too, the memo said.
The NBA is also making it mandatory for teams to distribute hand-sanitizer to players and staff members.
The NBA has already instructed players to make changes in how they interact with fans advising no autographs or handshakes.
The spread of the illness is impacting how some players go about their business. Portland Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum made it clear he would not be signing autographs while also tweeting out multiple advisories.
Although some of the numbers are more estimates than concrete data, CBS Boston reported there are 28 cases of coronavirus in the state of Massachusetts.
Meanwhile, the Celtics have even more on their plate. Stevens team has been ravaged by injuries in recent weeks, with the likes of Kemba Walker, Jaylen Brown and Gordon Hayward all going down with separate maladies.
The Celtics enter Sundays contest against the Oklahoma City Thunder two games back of the Toronto Raptors for the second seed in the Eastern Conference.
Depending on how the league decides to tackle the coronavirus, Brad Stevens and the Celtics might have to make a late-season surge without the support of a raucous Boston crowd.
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