On his weekly go to with 98.5 The SportsHub’s Toucher & Rich, President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens diplomatically approached his workforce’s vaccination standing.
“I do know what you’re getting at, clearly, with this,” Stevens stated. “As a company we’ve stated from day one, we’re not going to touch upon our workforce vaccination standing or particular person vaccination standing, and as you stated, the principles have sort of fluctuated because the yr’s gone on. And, so, I really feel like our job is to guarantee that we proceed to coach and ensure to maintain everyone abreast of these adjustments, and the NBA has executed an amazing job of that, all throughout the league.
“Anyhow, I do know that’s not, in all probability, the precise reply you’re searching for, however that’s the place we stand and that’s all I actually should say about it.”
On Monday, the workforce misplaced an extra time squeaker in Toronto with out four-fifths of the beginning lineup out there. Formally, Robert Williams, Jayson Tatum, and Jaylen Brown have been unavailable on the again finish of a back-to-back with accidents and Al Horford was out for a second straight recreation for private causes.
The Celtics at present sit alone because the #3 seed within the Japanese Convention, two video games behind the Miami Heat and Milwaukee Bucks within the loss column and a recreation up on the Philadelphia 76ers. The Raptors are additionally entrenched in tight battle for playoff seeding. They’re half a recreation behind the Chicago Bulls for the fifth seed (and tied within the loss column). With lower than two weeks and a handful of video games to go within the common season, there’s likelihood that Boston’s highway by the postseason may run by Scotiabank Areana within the first spherical.
There’s some conjecture as as to if all members of the Celtics have acquired the COVID-19 vaccine. Per ESPN’s Tim Bontemps, Williams is vaccinated, however received’t be out there within the first spherical as he recovers from surgical procedure on his torn left meniscus anyway. And as Bontemps notes, Tatum acknowledged at Media Day that he was vaccinated. Brown’s and Horford’s statuses are unclear and each have been within the league’s well being and security protocols this season (Horford, twice).
Back in September, Brown spoke in regards to the league’s push to get its gamers vaccinated earlier than the season. “Everyone has their very own ideas about it. Personally, I’ve my closest relations are vaccinated. I’ve relations who’re vaccinated who’re involved with getting the booster shot or a number of booster pictures, and I’ve some individuals in my household who should not vaccinated in any respect,” Brown stated in coaching camp. “It’s simply dependent in your state of affairs, your loved ones, and the way you are feeling. I feel that units the agenda for every particular person. I feel the NBA and the Gamers’ Affiliation are undoubtedly the frontrunners when it comes to society about getting vaccinated.”
A typical false impression exists that as a result of they’ve performed in video games in New York, the Celtics must also qualify for play north of the border; nonetheless, native restrictions at Madison Sq. Backyard and Barclays Heart don’t apply to visiting groups.
Since coaching camp, the workforce has publicly taken the identical nondisclosure tact that Stevens voiced at the moment: a participant’s vaccination standing is non-public and so they’ll clearly obey any native mandates when it comes COVID protocols. On January 15, Canada put restrictions on unvaccinated foreigners coming into the nation. The Celtics recreation in Toronto on November 28 was pre-Omicron and earlier than the newest revised border measures have been carried out.
Since lacking the Monday matchup with the Raptors, Horford has addressed the problem of his vaccination standing. “We’re clear on it,” Horford stated after shedding to the Warmth on Wednesday. “I’ll be able to play wherever.” For what it’s price, it’s unclear whether or not or not he’s at present vaccinated or will obtain the required pictures earlier than the playoffs start in mid-April.
Head coach Ime Udoka, who handled a breakthrough case of COVID to begin the preseason, has stated that “if wholesome, they’ll all play.” So, whereas that doesn’t definitively handle the rumors and speculations of the place the Celtics stand at the moment, it ought to calm any issues that they’ll be restricted within the playoffs.
