NEWSLETTER
Ten positive cases later, the NBA has finally decided to postpone two upcoming Bulls games, one against the Pistons (originally set for Tuesday) and Raptors (originally set for Thursday).
The decision felt like an obvious one considering the increasing number of cases inside the team’s locker room, but that didn’t stop the NBA from taking its time to make this call. The league has normally instructed teams to play as long as eight players were healthy. Technically, Chicago could fulfill that requirement, but the potential for future spread and the excessive workload placed on the active players was too great to bear.
The following was released by the NBA pic.twitter.com/afG3OqvqlB
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) December 13, 2021
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) December 13, 2021
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski said the Chicago Department of Public Health also played a role in the league’s decision. One has to imagine there were concerns about inviting so many fans into the arena with so many cases behind the scenes.
The Chicago Department of Public Health had concerns about the Bulls continuing to play this week, and that played a part in the NBA decision, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 13, 2021
Now, the Bulls next game will be set for December 19th against the Los Angeles Lakers. The team should have back a number of players by then, including Coby White and Javonte Green.
What we need to do now is wait to see when the NBA chooses to reschedule these games as well as hope that no more players or coaches test positive behind the scenes.
