Rockets' Russell Westbrook tests positive for coronavirus

Houston Rockets star guard Russell Westbrook announced that he tested positive for the coronavirus before the team departed for Walt Disney World.

Westbrook, co-star James Harden and recent addition Luc Mbah a Moute did not travel with the Rockets to Orlando, Florida.

Coach Mike D'Antoni said Sunday he hoped all three players would be able to arrive at the NBA bubble in Disney World within three or four days. The Rockets had declined to specify a reason for the players' absence.

"These are things that people are dealing with," D'Antoni said.

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Sources: Rockets' Caboclo breaks quarantine
The players will have to quarantine in their rooms for 48 hours after their arrival before practicing with the Rockets.

D'Antoni said the three players were working out "at their home bases," and he expressed optimism that their delayed arrivals wouldn't have a significant impact on the Rockets, particularly once the playoffs begin.

The Rockets are also without forward Bruno Caboclo, whom sources told ESPN inadvertently broke the initial quarantine period and must remain in his room for eight more days before joining team activities.
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29455734/rockets-russell-westbrook-positive-coronavirus

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https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1282779869462564865

http://www.sportsbettingdime.com/amp/news/nba/odds-favor-2020-season-restarting-on-time-finish-orlando-bubble/

Despite some movement, the odds still favor (-300) the NBA season restarting on time in the Orlando bubble Odds are slight lower (-250) that the season will be able to finish with this new formatRead on for a deeper look at the concerns surrounding the NBA restart in the Orlando bubble.

edit: Jul 2 article

TripleThreat wrote:

GustavBahler wrote:That sucks. This looks like the makings of a bad idea. Was wondering what the odds were that the bubble wouldnt go the distance.

The league and owners are doing the bare minimum to say they completed the terms of their TV deal with the networks this season. For forever, people have been saying the owners treat the players like cattle and use them and exploit them, well this is where the trade off happens. In a situation like this, the owners take a massive hit. ( You have all the power, you take nearly all of the fallout) It's not just their pet NBA franchise, but everything linked to them.

What the networks want is a gigantic adjustment on the next major TV deal. Be too much money and blood to let suits try to break this current agreement down during a pandemic. They want NBA owners to blink first to approach them on a modification on the current deal ( where the league can cancel out parts of the preexisting contract without losing the agreed upon money)

Conversely, the owners wants the networks to blink first, so they are in a different leverage position on what to do with a cancelled season or possibly multiple seasons.

The tipping point will be the elite players. No one is paying to see Boban and Tobias Harris dancing at halfcourt. If the elite players opt out, there is no reason to have a season at all. Their endorsers however have a stake with the networks and are pressuring them to play.

The player should simply walk out. The owners, the league, the networks, the brands, the NBPA don't give a **** if they live or die. This goes beyond the game and money, this is your life. This is your family. For fringe guys, I see the complication, the need to earn. For guys who have banked a lot already? Esp ones with rings already? Why bother with this?

No amount of money is worth increasing the risk of catching something and passing it to your kids. But that's just me.

It's one thing to be treated like cattle. It's another to walk into the barn on your own and kneel down to be branded.

Interesting points about the contractual issues. As mentioned before, the league will probably have to get more creative than ballroom space at Disney. The longer the country deals with this pandemic, guessing there will be a point where the bubble can be moved, so to speak. Not suggesting anything close to a regular schedule. Maybe more exotic venues, more regional games.

Dont know if it could be managed, with crowd control and all. But it would be fun to see games at Rucker, The "Cage". Venice beach. And some places where you wouldnt expect a game to be played. Like something out of a video game.

Nalod wrote:

GustavBahler wrote:

TripleThreat wrote:

GustavBahler wrote:That sucks. This looks like the makings of a bad idea. Was wondering what the odds were that the bubble wouldnt go the distance.

The league and owners are doing the bare minimum to say they completed the terms of their TV deal with the networks this season. For forever, people have been saying the owners treat the players like cattle and use them and exploit them, well this is where the trade off happens. In a situation like this, the owners take a massive hit. ( You have all the power, you take nearly all of the fallout) It's not just their pet NBA franchise, but everything linked to them.

What the networks want is a gigantic adjustment on the next major TV deal. Be too much money and blood to let suits try to break this current agreement down during a pandemic. They want NBA owners to blink first to approach them on a modification on the current deal ( where the league can cancel out parts of the preexisting contract without losing the agreed upon money)

Conversely, the owners wants the networks to blink first, so they are in a different leverage position on what to do with a cancelled season or possibly multiple seasons.

The tipping point will be the elite players. No one is paying to see Boban and Tobias Harris dancing at halfcourt. If the elite players opt out, there is no reason to have a season at all. Their endorsers however have a stake with the networks and are pressuring them to play.

The player should simply walk out. The owners, the league, the networks, the brands, the NBPA don't give a **** if they live or die. This goes beyond the game and money, this is your life. This is your family. For fringe guys, I see the complication, the need to earn. For guys who have banked a lot already? Esp ones with rings already? Why bother with this?

No amount of money is worth increasing the risk of catching something and passing it to your kids. But that's just me.

It's one thing to be treated like cattle. It's another to walk into the barn on your own and kneel down to be branded.

Interesting points about the contractual issues. As mentioned before, the league will probably have to get more creative than ballroom space at Disney. The longer the country deals with this pandemic, guessing there will be a point where the bubble can be moved, so to speak. Not suggesting anything close to a regular schedule. Maybe more exotic venues, more regional games.

Dont know if it could be managed, with crowd control and all. But it would be fun to see games at Rucker, The "Cage". Venice beach. And some places where you wouldnt expect a game to be played. Like something out of a video game.

you thinkning without spectators? more of a "Made for TV" type event?
Outdoor is cool but weather would be an issue. They have to lay a floor down, issue of medical/training equip. College did a game on a battle ship a few years back, but it was not a bubble. NFL shouldl move the damn thing to New Zealand.

Not for nothing but why don't all the American leagues do this? I think NHL is doing Canada only games?

Nalod wrote:

martin wrote:

Nalod wrote:

GustavBahler wrote:

TripleThreat wrote:

GustavBahler wrote:That sucks. This looks like the makings of a bad idea. Was wondering what the odds were that the bubble wouldnt go the distance.

The league and owners are doing the bare minimum to say they completed the terms of their TV deal with the networks this season. For forever, people have been saying the owners treat the players like cattle and use them and exploit them, well this is where the trade off happens. In a situation like this, the owners take a massive hit. ( You have all the power, you take nearly all of the fallout) It's not just their pet NBA franchise, but everything linked to them.

What the networks want is a gigantic adjustment on the next major TV deal. Be too much money and blood to let suits try to break this current agreement down during a pandemic. They want NBA owners to blink first to approach them on a modification on the current deal ( where the league can cancel out parts of the preexisting contract without losing the agreed upon money)

Conversely, the owners wants the networks to blink first, so they are in a different leverage position on what to do with a cancelled season or possibly multiple seasons.

The tipping point will be the elite players. No one is paying to see Boban and Tobias Harris dancing at halfcourt. If the elite players opt out, there is no reason to have a season at all. Their endorsers however have a stake with the networks and are pressuring them to play.

The player should simply walk out. The owners, the league, the networks, the brands, the NBPA don't give a **** if they live or die. This goes beyond the game and money, this is your life. This is your family. For fringe guys, I see the complication, the need to earn. For guys who have banked a lot already? Esp ones with rings already? Why bother with this?

No amount of money is worth increasing the risk of catching something and passing it to your kids. But that's just me.

It's one thing to be treated like cattle. It's another to walk into the barn on your own and kneel down to be branded.

Interesting points about the contractual issues. As mentioned before, the league will probably have to get more creative than ballroom space at Disney. The longer the country deals with this pandemic, guessing there will be a point where the bubble can be moved, so to speak. Not suggesting anything close to a regular schedule. Maybe more exotic venues, more regional games.

Dont know if it could be managed, with crowd control and all. But it would be fun to see games at Rucker, The "Cage". Venice beach. And some places where you wouldnt expect a game to be played. Like something out of a video game.

you thinkning without spectators? more of a "Made for TV" type event?
Outdoor is cool but weather would be an issue. They have to lay a floor down, issue of medical/training equip. College did a game on a battle ship a few years back, but it was not a bubble. NFL shouldl move the damn thing to New Zealand.

Not for nothing but why don't all the American leagues do this? I think NHL is doing Canada only games?

Does it really matter? quick novelty I agree but playong a hockey game in a football stadium is cool if your drunk and in the stands. Sight lines suck. After 10 min on TV its like "Still a hockey game!
Wood hoop court can't get wet. Humidity matters, rain, etc. Love the playground idea but Players association would never agree to it. Playing on hard surface.
On a volcano? Thats exotic!

Yankees were supposed to play a game on the "field of dreams" site? That was cool!!!!!

I'm not talking environment, I'm talking where there is no COVID

Nalod wrote: NFL should move the damn thing to New Zealand.

The NFL would have to pay to use their stadiums, if they are available at all for this kind of volume/attrition.

NFL games, if they are broadcast, have to do so in real time. I suppose if there are no fans, you could try to schedule games at odd hours, except you'd have to accommodate all teams, playing all week on different days. You can't have 5-6 different stadiums and expect to maintain security/logistics. Also field maintenance takes time. You can't have three NFL games in the same stadium on the same day and expect to maintain a field for safety.

Logistically, you need to move all players, coaches, and their support staff and families to another country. You can't have people shuttling back and forth, they would need to basically live there for a season. You are talking the kind of logistical bandwidth that only the US military could reasonably handle. We are talking about building a mini city off US soil.

Host countries are obligated for medical services, security and accommodation for dependents. This means critical emergency services, even if they are being paid by the NFL by proxy, are being moved from the people of New Zealand.

It's implied, based on precedent via international games, that your host country will get some broadcast rights. The agreement between the league and the networks don't cover this kind of volume. The suits would need to hammer that out and it would take forever.

Politically, New Zealand would be opening up to a massive COVID19 risk. Would you like it if your school did X amount of hard work to stay safe, then your kids show up one day and 600 new kids from outside your area just show up and expect to be integrated into those classes? NZ will always have the capability to revoke any and all visas at any time.

Playing in your empty US stadium lets you fulfill your existing contracts. Luxury suites. Ads around the stadium. Commercials. Etc. Playing in another country creates all kinds of legal/insurance problems. Force Majeure type contract provisions will typically cover inability to play period not playing in a different country. Long story short, you will give sponsors and so forth a legal leg to stand on to challenge to void their contracts with said NFL team. With massive amounts of revenue being lost, plenty of folks locked into contracts/deals with the NFL would jump at the chance to separate.

If you lose one team to a massive outbreak, then what happens to your schedule? Do you want to see a guy the size of Curtis Martin playing left tackle because no one is left? Or have Daniel Jones punting and place kicking out of attrition?

You are talking a total nightmare logistically, financially and politically.

The NFL's best chance is to build a mini city in the desert somewhere in America. The NBAs best chance is to retrofit a cruise liner.

Projected revenue losses for major American sports franchises is going to hover around 35-40 percent. This year alone. A team like the Knicks or Lakers can weather something like this for a while. The Atlanta Hawks?

I understand part of the sentiment outside of the money. This is like the movie Snowpiercer. If the train stops, if the perpetual motion stops, you derail the train and the sport dies.

To survive long term death of the sport, the idea of contraction starts to become very real.