It didn't seem to be a big deal that Kristaps Porzingis missed the scheduled COVID-19 test he was scheduled to take on Saturday but it slipped out of his mind. As a result, the Dallas Mavericks star was quarantined the next day and missed his team's scrimmage.
Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle reported that the Latvian had completely forgotten about the safety routine and stressed Porzingis had no intention to deliberately skip the test. It was suggested that due to a free day last Saturday, the thought of the test escaped from the 24-year-old.
The player, however, must suffer the consequences of his action. He was out of the Mavs' scrimmage against the Indiana Pacers on Sunday and was made to understand that similar infractions, intended or unintended, will lead to the same course of action.
As Carlisle has explained, regular testing is part of the protocols being enforced in the NBA Orlando bubble games. Players and personnel inside the Disney World Resort will be subjected to tests and must be quarantined for missed testing. The same applies too for positive results.
Porzingis' case is not the first in the bubble city, according to Yahoo Sports. Paul Millsap of the Denver Nuggets was caught in the same situation Friday last week and was quarantined as well. He too was forced to skip his team's Saturday scrimmage.
The incident should serve as an important reminder to all bubble participants that one minor mistake could lead to serious consequences. It is understood that during the regular games, the same rules will apply, which means that players not following the rules will miss games and there will be no exceptions.
Porzingis, for instance, getting quarantined again in the postseason will certainly Dallas. Clutch Points said the Latvian has become more dangerous following his ACL injury in 2018. And the season suspension gave the big man a much-needed breather that his contribution in the bubble campaign will certainly boost the Dallas cause.
Carlisle said Porzingis is in a perfect shape heading to the Orlando games. The Mavs star also showcased aggressiveness during the team's practices and most importantly, has professed that he now understands the Dallas playbook a lot better.
"Now I know the type of basketball we play ... I know the system. I have had a lot of good conversations with Coach Carlisle," Porzingis was reported as saying.
Porzingis indeed seemed to be flourishing more than ever. Before the NBA pause in March, he was knocking down 19.5 points per game and hauling down 9.5 rebounds. He figured prominently in Mavericks posting a 40-27 record in the regular season.
Carlisle is reckoning that Porzingis will only level up on his game in the playoffs and he added that the big man is now treating the test skip as a huge misstep, a "cautionary tale" that he is part of an important situation that is still underway.
