NBA to allow some teams to open practice facilities on May 1st
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| Could the Auerbach Center be turning its lights back on soon? |
Sources: Teams will be allowed to make facilities open to players on a voluntary basis for individual work, but larger group workouts will still be prohibited. In NBA markets that aren't loosening restrictions, league plans to work w/ teams on other arrangements for players. https://t.co/yZSKsXedW1— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 25, 2020
As Georgia moves toward opening certain businesses -- including gymasiums -- some players were asking their teams if they should consider traveling there to find a way to play. Organizations wants players in safe/clean team environments, not a fitness center in suburban Atlanta.— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 25, 2020
NBA's decision on opening practice facilities to players in markets where governments may be loosening stay-at-home orders doesn't mean a resumption of season is imminent. The NBA is still unsure on if/when it can play again. But getting players safely into gyms was a priority.— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 25, 2020
Note the caveat of "some teams." When might Celtics players be able to hit the Auerbach center? The earliest would be May 4th, but it's unlikely.
The stay-at-home order in Massachusetts is scheduled to end May 4. Earlier today, Gov. Charlie Baker said: “May 4 was based on our assumption that we were going to be in the surge at some point in early April. The surge has been a little bit later than that." https://t.co/bGSXuZBV9U— Boston.com Celtics News (@BDCCeltics) April 25, 2020
Players are going to need quite a bit of time to get back into game shape before games can resume. And you don't want to punish the cities where players couldn't start working out til later. Then there's the whole bubble idea of playing all the remaining games in Las Vegas (or Orlando). Still a lot of hurdles to jump over, but again this has to count for some good news. We'll keep you posted with any other breaking updates.
