Orlando is favorite, funny phrase. No, the Magic is not going to roll on the East, but it is indeed the Walt Disney World Resort which would be in the process of welcoming the end of the NBA season. What could be better than going to see Mickey and Minnie making poutous between two matches?
Like the whole world, the Great League has been in the dark since the end of its season on March 11. Cancel the season, postpone it, Playoffs, not Playoffs, with or without an audience… in short, Adam Silver and the leaders of the NBA are in overdrive to find THE solution. One thing is certain in the League, we want to bring back basketball as soon as possible. The solution favored by the Commissioner and the players for the moment would be to end the season in the same place, in order to avoid hundreds of trips and the risks that go with it. If for several weeks Las Vegas and Orlando have been battling for the organization of the last matches, the stronghold of Aaron Gordon is today favorite according to Shams Charania:
The NBA has Orlando/Disney World as a clear frontrunner for return-to-play site for resuming 2019-20 season, sources tell me and @sam_amick. Orlando has gained significant seriousness among other cites such as Las Vegas.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 20, 2020
With its gigantic Disney-branded complex, the city of Florida rents its access, training and accommodation facilities for the 30 franchises. Completely private, the place more easily ensures maximum security. Central point of the negotiations, the protection of players in the NBA is vital for its leaders, as Kevin O’Connor explains for The Ringer:
“Others places are also under investigation, including Houston, according to several sources. But play matches on a terrain neutral facilitates the control of risks : the more people there are presentities, the greater the risk. Players and staff will certainly live with family members or coteam members, not all of which can be tracked by the league. No matter the place where the met are disputed, thousands of tests for players, coaches and other staff will be required. “
We suspect that a series of Rockets – Clippers Playoffs at Toyota Center could attract a few residents of Houston. The League must now procure more than 15,000 tests to perform daily on players, staff, and other members of franchises. If a test is declared positive, it is quarantine without possible discussion. But before any resumption, the teams must obviously get back in condition with all the players available at the training center. Adam Silver must also announce the main lines of the future recovery and the rules to be respected for the players and staffs. The NBA does not want to choke and choose the city with the least risk. If Orlando holds the rope, nothing is set in stone and everything remains possible depending on the evolution of COVID-19 in the United States. Las Vegas is still in the running, and even if Phoenix and Houston are running, they are clearly the side options in the Orange Ball comeback.
The days go by and the trend remains the same: bring back basketball during the summer and finish the 2019-20 season. And if in addition we can watch one against one between Goofy and Donald, we will not deprive ourselves. Come on, let’s let the magic come to life.
Source texte : The Ringer
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