The Sacramento Kings have had a tough go leading up to the NBA’s return in Orlando, Fla. And Harrison Barnes testing positive for COVID-19 is just the latest issue they’ve run into thanks to the novel coronavirus. “Prior to the team leaving last week, I tested positive for Covid-19,” Barnes said Monday in a Twitter…
Harrison Barnes Is 4th Player With COVID-19 As Kings’ Complications Continue — NESN.com
Houston head coach Mike D’Antoni and GM Daryl Morey have each said on the record that they expect All-Star guards James Harden and Russell Westbrook to rejoin the Rockets in short order.
Both former MVPs have yet to arrive at the “bubble” complex in Florida, where the NBA’s 2019-20 season will restart later this month. The Rockets arrived last Thursday and have practiced since Saturday.
Westbrook’s absence is due to a positive test for COVID-19, for which the NBA requires a minimum period of 14 days away from the basketball court and multiple negative tests before a player can rejoin his teammates. As of Tuesday, the reason for Harden’s absence remains undisclosed.
Nonetheless, the Rockets continue to publicly insist that both will rejoin the team shortly, and it sounds as if they’re similarly confident in private settings. On Tuesday, NBA insider Shams Charania of The Athletic said:
James Harden is feeling fine, he has been working out to make sure that he stays in shape. He may travel with Russell Westbrook to Orlando once Westbrook clears [protocols] from the coronavirus.
Everyone around the Rockets is optimistic that they will be able to get Westbrook and Harden into Orlando, sooner rather than later.
A source tells our NBA Insider @ShamsCharania that Rockets star James Harden is feeling fine, working out and may travel with Russell Westbrook to Orlando when Westbrook clears from coronavirus. pic.twitter.com/O8CsLBxGJK
— Stadium (@Stadium) July 14, 2020
In line with Charania’s reports, D’Antoni said Monday that both stars are working out on their own to stay in shape. That’s why he expects them to “hit the ground running” once they arrive, and it’s also why D’Antoni doesn’t expect their brief absence to be a setback for the Rockets.
Since Westbrook and Harden were not on the team’s original charter flight to Florida, they must test negative three times for COVID-19 before traveling to Orlando. Late arrivers must also go through the NBA’s initial two-day period of self-quarantine and COVID-19 testing upon entering the bubble. That means they won’t be able to join their teammates on the practice court until two days after their arrival.
The 2019-20 regular season won’t resume for the Rockets until Friday, July 31 versus Dallas, which gives Harden and Westbrook (and the Rockets) plenty of wiggle room as they navigate those logistics.
ORLANDO, Fla. >> For now, Playoff Rondo is on hiatus. A right thumb fracture will shelve Rajon Rondo for six-to-eight weeks, a blow to the team’s depth that Frank Vogel acknowledged Monday was “a huge loss.” He’s scheduled to leave the NBA’s restart to have surgery this week and begin his rehabilitation outside of the…
Lakers could lean more on Dion Waiters while hoping Rondo returns for playoff run — Press Telegram
Houston Rockets forward Bruno Caboclo said he “inadvertently” broke quarantine at the NBA’s complex in Florida and was ordered to self-quarantine in his hotel room for another eight days before resuming team activities, ESPN reported Monday. The report came the same day his teammate, guard Russell Westbrook, announced on social media that he had tested […]
Report: Rockets forward Bruno Caboclo forced to quarantine eight days — Canoe
Michael Shapiro
Rockets guard Russell Westbrook announced on Monday he has tested positive for COVID-19.
Westbrook said he tested positive prior to the Rockets’ departure for Orlando on Thursday.
“I’m currently feeling well, quarantined and looking forward to rejoining my teammates when I am cleared,” Westbrook tweeted. “Thank you for all the well wishes and continued support. Please take this virus seriously. Be safe. Mask up!”
Neither Westbrook nor James Harden joined Houston in its flight to Orlando on Thursday, though both players are expected to arrive in “a few days” per head coach Mike D’Antoni
Westbrook is the only Rockets’ player with a confirmed positive COVID-19 test as of Monday afternoon, but Houston has still be hindered by the coronavirus. Forward Bruno Caboclo will have to spend the next eight days quarantining in his room in Orlando after “inadvertently” breaking quarantine within the first 48 hours of his arrival, per ESPN’s Tim MacMahon.
2019-20 marks Westbrook’s first season with the Rockets after 11 years in Oklahoma City. The two-time scoring champion and 2016-17 MVP struggled out of the gate with Houston, but quickly found a rhythm once the calendar turned to 2020. Westbrook is averaging 31.7 points, 8.1 rebounds and 6.8 assists since Jan. 1, shooting 52.7% from the field.
Houston will hold its third practice in Orlando on Monday. Its first scrimmage is set for July 24 before the regular season resumes on July 30.
The Rockets’ first game of the NBA restart will be held on July 31 as Houston faces Dallas. Tip-off is slated for 8 p.m. CT.
Raptors rookie Oshae Brissett recently became a first-time father but he had no reservations about restarting the season this month.
Terence Davis has been a ‘sponge’ around the Raptors veterans — The Rookie Wire
Cody Taylor July 13, 2020 11:05 amVolume 0% Hide video
Toronto Raptors guard Terence Davis emerged this season as a key contributor for the defending NBA champions and the rookie has spent much of the year learning from his veteran teammates.
With a roster featuring the likes of Marc Gasol, Serge Ibaka, Kyle Lowry and others, there has been seemingly plenty of wisdom to go around for a young player like Davis. The process has allowed Davis to not only grow on the court but off of it, as well.
Davis told reporters on Sunday following practice at the Walt Disney World Resort that he has learned how to become a professional from the veterans on the roster and is constantly soaking up their knowledge.
It goes a lot of ways with taking care of your body because that’s what’s going to take care of you; that’s your moneymaker right there. Eating right, putting the right things in your body, being on time and doing things the right way. … I’m a sponge right now being a rookie. That’s the nature of this game, you gotta climb the ladder. Just being a professional is one way to keep you in this league.
Davis added that he has become a better player in pick-and-roll situations thanks to working with Gasol and Ibaka. The spacing that they can create allows Davis the ability to make a play and he has often taken advantage of those scenarios.
The rise of Davis in just his first year in the NBA has been remarkable. Raptors head coach Nick Nurse has often used small rotations this season, sometimes only eight or nine players deep, and Davis was among those players used off of the bench.
The Raptors will kick off the season restart on Aug. 1 against the Los Angeles Lakers. They are among the favorites in the Eastern Conference and could find themselves competing for yet another championship this season.
It will be an experience Davis will likely be ready for.
In his first virtual meeting with reporters since joining the Clippers just before the coronavirus pandemic interrupted the season, veteran center Joakim Noah on Saturday shrugged off any natural reticence about playing basketball in the Orlando bubble. He didn’t even mention the food on campus at the Walt Disney World’s ESPN Wide World of Sports…
Clippers’ Joakim Noah is healthy and not taking anything for granted — Daily News
The Brooklyn Nets are looking to sign yet another ex-New York Knicks player ahead of the NBA’s restart at Disney.
Report: Nets close to deal with Lance Thomas — Nets Wire
With so much movement happening on the social justice front, last month Lou Williams said he wasn’t sure whether playing basketball this summer would distract from those issues. And, he said, he didn’t know whether he should join the Clippers in Orlando as they seek to finish off what they hope is the organization’s first…
Clippers’ Lou Williams goes from on the bubble to in the ‘bubble’ in Orlando — Press Telegram
It’ll be a long, fraught road before the Clippers or any of the 21 teams in Orlando can claim Mission Accomplished. But even as they awaited the arrival of Kawhi Leonard later Friday, with the first 36 hours of solitary quarantine out of the way, Doc Rivers’ squad was eager to get down to basketball.…
Awaiting Kawhi Leonard’s arrival Friday, Clippers are on a mission in Orlando — Press Telegram
The NBA will allow players to share their voice amid ongoing systemic racism protests by letting them replace their last name on their back with a message of social justice. Boston Celtics’ Semi Ojeleye will take part in it. The 25-year-old forward revealed he will wear “Love Us” on the back of his jersey, rather than…
Celtics’ Semi Ojeleye Will Wear Powerful Message On Jersey Upon NBA Return — NESN.com
76ers rookie Matisse Thybulle will encourage fans to vote as part of his social message during the NBA season restart this month.
Ja Morant calls out those complaining about the food in the NBA bubble — The Rookie Wire
The view from left field 