To play or not to play?
That is the question.
Tonight’s Chicago Bulls Matchup With the Toronto Raptors Has Officially Been Postponedhttps://t.co/s8IDXTvrED
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) December 22, 2021
• While he may be acting like it, Commissioner Adam Silver is not trying to answer an existential question. If a team is in the midst of a COVID outbreak with seven of its players in Health and Safety Protocols and multiple others unable to play due to injury, the simple decision is to postpone the game. Yes, I know this creates its own logistical nightmare, but the words “Health and Safety” are used for a reason. Those things stand above all else, and if a team is spreading the virus faster than Coby White in the fastbreak, then the smart move is to not let that team rub their sweaty and heavy-breathing bodies on a bunch of other players.
• The smart move is also not to send that team across the country in the first place. The Raptors’ situation has not changed much over the last 24 hours. OG Anunoby is the only new player to enter protocols, and whether or not the team’s G-League hardship signings would be ready in time to play tonight was just as much up in the air then as it was this morning. So the fact Anunoby and Co. were still instructed to board and plane and land in Chicago is … well … beyond me.
• As much as I believe DeMar DeRozan would have absolutely handed it to this Junior Varsity Raptors team tonight, I’ll still gladly accept an extra day off for the Bulls. The team will now have four full days to rest up before they return to action against the Indiana Pacers on December 26th. Considering Alex Caruso is currently dealing with a left foot sprain, and Derrick Jones Jr. recently suffered a hamstring injury, any recovery time without having to miss a game feels like a bonus. The same can be said for those players still in the NBA’s Health and Safety Protocols. With Zach LaVine, Ayo Dosunmu, and Alize Johnson already ruled out until after Christmas, this puts the Bulls in a position not to have to play another game without these three available.
• After a matchup with the Pacers, the Bulls will then play a home-and-home series against the Atlanta Hawks … maybe! The Hawks are also dealing with a sizable outbreak in addition to several injuries. Isn’t the world just so fun right now!
An @emoryhealthcare injury report for tonight's game vs. Orlando (2/2):
Danilo Gallinari (health and safety protocols): Out
Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (health and safety protocols): Out
Lou Williams (health and safety protocols): Out
Trae Young (health and safety protocols): Out— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) December 22, 2021
• Yesterday, Silver did speak with Malike Andrews on NBA Today about the league’s current COVID issues, but he made clear there is no intention to pause the season as of now.
Commissioner Adam Silver joined NBA Today to talk about COVID in the league as Christmas Day approaches.
Silver said there are currently no plans to pause the season. pic.twitter.com/LFIPCCejnQ
— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) December 21, 2021
Part 2: Commissioner Adam Silver addresses testing, asymptomatic players and potential competitive imbalance with signing short-term players. pic.twitter.com/3pJS5KJG1Z
— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) December 21, 2021
• Chicago has announced that practically all indoor facilities will have to check for proof of vaccination starting early in 2022. Of course, this will also include the United Center, which will now no longer accept proof of a negative test.
Effective January 3, there will be updated Chicago Vaccine Requirements at the United Center:
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) December 22, 2021
• So … Iman Shumpert has a point, right?
Shump gets why LeBron went to Miami but he thinks it changed the NBA forever
(via @BootlegKev) pic.twitter.com/Lg2yVKoaPX
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 22, 2021
• I’m all for the player empowerment era, and I do believe the player movement we’ve seen ignited by LeBron James’ decision to go to Miami has come with its positives. The league is arguably more interesting to follow than ever before, and it’s largely due to the fact that players are constantly looking for the next best opportunity to win a title. With all that said, it does kind of stink we don’t have more loyalty in today’s NBA. We all know how powerful the relationship can be between an athlete and a city. We also know how much more a title means when it’s built from the ground up. So while I think this current NBA environment makes for a far more exciting national product, there is no question the regional connection built between its franchise and its community has been damaged over the past decade or so.
• I giggled once or twice.
https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/1473676522959560704?s=20
• ISO JOE IS BACK!
Free agent guard Joe Johnson is signing a 10-day deal with the Boston Celtics, sources tell ESPN. Johnson is returning to the franchise that drafted him 20 years ago and is expected to play tonight vs. Cleveland.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 22, 2021
• Don’t worry, the new GM will do it.
Akiem Hicks Embodies Everything the Bears Want to Be …. So Re-Sign Him Already!https://t.co/mw1BvH0q11
— Bleacher Nation Bears (@BN_Bears) December 22, 2021