The 2019-20 NBA season was on the home stretch before the coronavirus pandemic broke out. With the season now on hold for the next 30-days, it remains to be seen if games will still continue. When asked about the possibility of canceling the season as a whole, most may not like what league commissioner Adam Silver had to say.
Appearing on TNT's "Inside the NBA", Silver admitted that the possibility of the season being canceled is possible. The commissioner is upfront on what could happen as the world tries to find ways to control the virus. Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell of the Utah Jazz have tested positive for the COVID-19 and possibly more. The fact that it has been growing rapidly is a cause for concern, and the upcoming months hold several uncertainties for the league.
Silver is expected to play it by ear. Most teams have issued self-quarantine measures to prevent the coronavirus from spreading. In China, the virus started to come out in late December. It has now been more than two months, and the country is only starting to get back on its feet. Most will recall that drastic measures were taken to prevent it from spreading.
Assuming the NBA follows that time frame, the earliest the NBA could be back would be around June. Most know that this would be the climax of the NBA playoffs under normal circumstances, placing the league in a tricky situation. Among the things that the NBA may do is scrap the remaining games and move on to the playoffs or spare teams already out of the running from playing their remaining games. The extreme (and undesirable) decision is to scrap the league in its entirety. Fans won't like it, similarly with teams who prepared heavily for the season.
The coronavirus is a problem that no one wanted. Most are trying to take preventive measures, but more is needed. Panic-buying has erupted in the Philippines as measures are being undertaken to place things under control. The COVID-19 is not an isolated case, and the best most can do is to pray that it finally dies down.
On a different note, the time off could help injured players recover from their injuries. Among the players out include Ben Simmons, Klay Thompson, DeMarcus Cousins, and so on. The temporary pause allows them to get well by preferably staying at home and do simple rehabilitation to get stronger. The pandemic has been appalling but something everyone needs to deal with right now.
