The new crown epidemic continues around the world, and the latest mutant strain "Omi kerong" has spread to the whole United States, and the NBA is naturally not immune. In response to the pandemic, the NBA is constantly looking for ways to solve problems. The league has allowed teams to sign players more flexibly with hardship regulations, replenish the team lineup and will enhance testing after Christmas.
According to statistics, more than 15% of the players have triggered the health and safety procedures to be isolated. Teams come up with squads every day filled with "Who is this?" "Some of these players most NBA fans have never heard of because they're mostly drafted from the G League.
However, there is one team that is extremely special at this moment, and they have not been affected by COVID-19 in the slightest, and that is the Phoenix Suns. After the Suns beat the Los Angeles Lakers 108-90 on December 22, the record reached 25-5, topping the league table. They have not had a single positive case of COVID-19 in the recent outbreak of infections, and no player has been quarantined in the regular season for triggering a health and safety protocol. The Suns' roster is quite complete compared to other teams, with the Suns' three most important players: Chris Paul, Devin Booker and DeAndre Ayton, of which Booker and Ayton have missed many games due to injury, but they have won 7 and lost 1 of the 8 games in Ayton's absence, and they are also 5-2 in 7 games in Which Booker is absent.
With Paul's leadership and other role players coming forward, the Suns trained well and played the most consistently, but the Suns were the first to admit that there was a certain element of luck in it.
Recently, nearly 10 players have triggered NBA health and safety agreements every day, and teams that have attracted much attention such as the Nets, Lakers, and Bulls have been plagued by this. The NBA has been forced to postpone seven games in the past week, but NBA President Adam Shaw made it clear that the league will continue to advance the schedule to avoid a shutdown. Xiao Hua said: "Of course we considered all possible options, but frankly, we can't find a reason to stop now. "This virus is not going to be destroyed, and we are going to learn how to live with it." ”
Of course, Xiao Hua's remarks were refuted by many experts in the field of public health.
The race continues, but the competitiveness and integrity of the race have been torn apart by the coronavirus. LeBron James showed a rare impatience in an interview after losing to the Suns, complaining: "I don't know what this team will become... We are all uneven, what do you want me to say? When James commented on the Suns' performance, his response was vaguely envious, saying: "For most of the season, they [the Suns and warriors] are healthy. So, this will definitely help to improve the chemical reaction and so on. Both teams have pretty much brought back their original squads, so they have teammateism and chemistry. ”
Suns coach Monty Williams said it would certainly help to have an experienced veteran like Paul on the team during such a difficult time. As the former president of the NBA Players' Union, Paul's presence has had a big impact on the attitude of the players in the Suns locker room to prevent the epidemic. In a video analysis class last week, he and Paul spoke to the whole team, hoping that the players would remain vigilant against the epidemic. In particular, he thanked Paul for his contribution to the team.
Paul emphasizes that two things need to be prioritized. First, be wary of the agreement. Second, don't complain about epidemic prevention.
"(Paul) is right, but profound." Williams said. 'I shared my personal experience and we want the players to understand how to do what they have to do, keep playing and protect their families.
Williams said he hopes players will encourage those close to them to be tested frequently so that they can add an extra layer of protection. Williams added: "I just told them that you're going to have family members walking around [during the holidays], so the safest thing to do is to get them tested when they go into town." ”
"Now the number of infections is up again and there are really people who have lost their lives for it, so it's stupid for us to complain about the game here."
Keeping them safe is also keeping us safe. People are struggling.
The NBA has been trying to be the leader in American society's response to the coronavirus. In March 2020, the NBA became the first sports league to suspend games, ahead of other leagues such as the NHL. Today, about 97 percent of players have been vaccinated, and 67 percent of players who qualify for the booster needle have received a booster injection, which is higher than the U.S. average. These measures worked at the time, and high vaccination rates were one of the reasons the NBA avoided suspensions when the Delta strain spread rapidly, but with the spread of the Omicron and the lax epidemic prevention work, the NBA was in a new round of trouble.
The Suns attach importance to epidemic prevention, neat personnel, and strong discipline, which make them a model team in the NBA's response to the new crown virus. Last season, they missed out on the championship. This time, the Suns must still want to compete for the championship, so they pay more attention to detail and try to avoid unnecessary attrition caused by the epidemic.
As Ayton recalls, Paul wants people to stay positive, stay focused on things they can control and not be hit by things they can't control," he told us to be prepared for the league's various measures (about COVID-19), no matter what decisions they make, and not to be affected too much, before they decide to suspend, just bury their heads in the game and play well." Ayton said.