The Boston Celtics await word from the State of Massachusetts regarding reopening their practice facilities, reports the Boston Herald’s Mark Murphy.
Shuttered not long after the NBA ceased all league activities following Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert’s positive diagnosis for the coronavirus responsible for the pandemic, the Celtics have not had use of their own training center since mid-March.
Boston has since been waiting until their facilities are deemed safe by local authorities in accordance with league guidelines on reopening team facilities.
“We will open our facility for one player, one basket, one coach at a time when we’re improved,” related lead team Governor Wyc Grousbeck (via Murphy).
“We have all of our applications and discussions underway. We don’t think it will be very long — I will say that,” offered Grousbeck. “We’re going to make sure it’s the safest thing anybody does all day long. If we’re open as a state, this might be the safest spot you can possibly be.”
Echoing the highest regard for caution shared by state Governor Charlie Barker, Grousbeck and the Celtics are eschewing any rush back to normalcy in favor of a measured approach that puts social well-being at the fore.
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh open to games at TD Garden without fans https://t.co/wcyKkJv9NO via @thecelticswire
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) May 16, 2020
Even when the facilities do reopen, it will be for one player at a time, with the absolute minimal number of support staff present to work with each player.
Around the rest of the NBA in municipalities where stay-at-home orders have been lifted, players have been largely jubilant about returning to workout facilities despite the risk-
The move was made by the NBA to allow such reopening in order to minimize players seeking access to less safe public alternatives, but has put some teams at a relative competitive disadvantage — not that Grousbeck and Co. seem to mind, given the stakes.
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