Miami Heat Joins NBA Conference Restart
Every Florida native's favorite sports team is back and better than ever. The Miami Heat has officially announced its return to participate in the restart of the 2019- 2020 seasons. The National Basketball Association (NBA) and The National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) have compiled a plan with infectious disease specialists to ensure that precaution will be taken in order to prevent COVID-19 outbreaks between the teams. Many players have already contracted the virus and have fully recovered, while some are still amidst coronavirus side-effects.
The NBA has even gone so far that they have released visual pictures laying out the court of where players will be sitting alongside the court, social distancing involved.
More specifically the NBA specified that "Teams are permitted up to 17 players in Orlando, including 14 or 15 players on a standard NBA contract and additional two-way spots." This preventative measure is one of the many that are in place.
All 22 teams deciding to join the resumption of the conference (9 Eastern Conference & 13 Western Conference) will be playing at the ever so famous, ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida. The complex has multiple field houses that provide the NBA with enough room to host the rest of the basketball season.
The National Basketball Association has made a schedule that could be subject to change due to the coronavirus pandemic that is still currently in full effect. As of right now, the tentative schedule is still in place and no changes have been made further.
Starting this week on Monday, July 7th, teams will begin to travel to Orlando, Florida. In just a few days from then, they will start officially running practices, playing scrimmages, and seeding games. The season reopening on July 30th with the latest possible end date on October 13th.
This turn in events is one that is extremely exciting providing sports enthusiasts with a bit more to look forward to in the days of quarantine. Although, this season will be different in terms of the lack of fans in the stadium. Due to health standards, the Miami Heats number one fan base will not be able to attend the games in-person and will instead have to make their living rooms the new normal.
Fans will be able to air all games on regional sports networks and other broadcasting channels. Cheering on their favorite players as they ball away against their rivalry teams for the national title in the NBA Final Championship game.