So much has changed in the past few months, and the NBA is no exception. When an NBA bubble was suggested around March, it was laughed off. However, now that other options have failed to pay off and we are threatened with losing the professional season altogether, it doesn’t seem like such a bad idea. Here’s what you need to know about the NBA bubble and how it affects this season.
What is the NBA Bubble?
When it became apparent that the COVID-19 pandemic was likely to have an effect on professional sports, the league moved to protect its teams in a protective bubble. 20 teams were invited into Orlando and to keep players from becoming infected. The idea was that if these teams were sufficiently isolated, they could play together safely and the season could go on. Certain rules exist for this NBA bubble to keep the season going honestly.
If all goes as planned, every single game on the NBA schedule through early October will be held at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando Florida. It is likely that the NBA champion will be crowned in an empty arena without a fan in sight.
Many people consider this effort to be less than worthy of the title of sports. They believe that whoever wins should not receive the same sort of accolades as those who have won before. Other people think that winning this year is sure to be the most challenging year of all, making it a special privilege and badge of honor to win under these challenging circumstances.
Regardless of what the world thinks about it, what is most impressive is the capacity of the NBA to take steps to protect itself when very few other protection options were available .
How Did The NBA Do It?
The NBA bubble is truly an inspiration for every industry trying to find creative ways of dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. The concept was simple: get everybody who needs to play this season together in one place with COVID-19 testing to make sure they don’t bring the virus in. Keep out anyone who isn’t completely essential and maintain the team virus-free.
Nobody was required to participate. Anyone who the team or medical experts thought might be at high risk for COVID-19 were excused with full pay. Other players are allowed to opt-out but may risk consequences as far as salary.
A number of NBA players dropped out before the bubble was initiated for all kinds of reasons. However, many teams did arrive on July 7th in their NBA bubble. Once a team, player, coach, or personnel is eliminated from the contest, they are excused to leave the bubble.
Why Orlando?
Florida may not seem to be the most natural choice for a national gathering right now. After all, Florida is seeing some of the biggest spikes nationwide.
However, the tremendous size of Walt Disney World Resort and the capacity to stretch out games across the complex and provide plenty of housing for everyone who needs it set this area aside as being the best option for the bubble. Furthermore, Florida is predicted to improve in its COVID-19 numbers as fall settles in, while numbers are likely to get worse further North.
Are People in the Bubble Maintaining Social Distance?
The entire concept of the NBA bubble is that social distance does not need to be maintained. Since social distance and the elimination of shared bodily fluids is impossible in gameplay,, there is no requirement to maintain social distancing within the bubble.
Everyone who comes into the bubble is tested for COVID and nobody outside of the bubble is allowed to interact with anybody inside of it. Guests are put up in several separate hotels in order to make it easier for everyone to remain comfortable.
Three different arenas are maintained for gameplay. However, most of the standard amenities at the huge resort, like golf courses, pools, and lounges are available to everybody in the bubble.
Is It Working?
So far, the NBA bubble seems to be successful. All competitive teams were invited and sufficient teams came to make the system work. When they arrived, every single player, staff member, and coach self-isolated for 48 hours in their room until they receive not one but two negative COVID-19 tests. Ongoing testing is continued within the bubble, especially if any extenuating circumstances mean that a player may have been exposed.
The NBA Bubble: A Creative Solution
The NBA bubble is a highly creative solution for a very strange circumstance. Because they acted fast and soon, the NBA was able to get around some of the important problems that other sports have faced as the pandemic has progressed. It appears that the NBA bubble is working as it was intended to work, although whether the results of the playoffs will be honored is another question.
