Rumor: Several Celtics staff tested positive for covid

[radiohead]

This isn’t great news. Hopefully Al is the last and only casualty.

https://www.celticsblog.com/2022/5/18/23124090/report-multiple-backroom-staff-have-tested-positive-for-covid-boston-celtics-al-horford-jayson-tatum

[hpantazo]

If it spreads through our roster we're screwed. It would be a really awful way to end a possible title run.

[pokeKingCurtis]

Al is so unlucky.

If I'm not mistaken, getting the virus is actually even better protection than getting a shot (I'm in Hong Kong and I think that's what some of the doctors here said so).

So Al got both the virus AND his shots, and still got infected again.

Thankfully, your symptoms lessen as you get more shots/infections. Remember when Tatum played with an inhaler - so we'll have none of that thankfully.

And also, I think our team was one of the most infected (was it this year? I think Josh Richardson was one of the people who got it. Not to mention the bubble year when we famously lost Tatum). So the protection should hopefully be better ...

[SparzWizard]

Are any of our other players affected by this? If Al is positive, I don't think I see him coming back this series. Just unfortunate.

Does that also mean the Heat are also affected, since they were around Celtics players yesterday (much less unmasked Floridians of 20,000 in the arena).

[flybono]

I thought there was no testing for vaccinated players or staff?

[gouki88]

I'll wait for MattyIce to pop in

[hpantazo]

I'll wait for MattyIce to pop in

Maybe he got covid too

[tarheelsxxiii]

I'll wait for MattyIce to pop in

Maybe he got covid too

His silence cannot be a coincidence.  #GetWellMattyIce

[celticsclay]

I thought there was no testing for vaccinated players or staff?

That is true unless you exhibit symptoms or have a direct exposure. We basically know al had a direct exposure from this report. ( or a real good reason to believe he was, especially based on how the team described it.

[Celtics2021]

The Covid numbers in Boston are as high right as they were in late January, and trending up.  It’ll be a miracle if Al is the only Celtic who gets it during the conference finals, as boosters and prior infections largely won’t protect against infection at this point.

[Erik]

This is the reaction form this group? Not surprised. How about “who cares about COVID anymore?”

Isn’t it about time that we just be normal and play a bit sick? If the player can’t go, that’s one thing… but I don’t think we should let this nonsense change a playoffs series if the player could go.

That’s sports. You get hurt, you get sick, and you play through it if you can… especially in the ECF amongst the most physically healthy human beings on the planet.

Play on. Get rid of this rule.

[JSD]

What if the entire roster tests positive? Forfeit?

[Neurotic Guy]

What if the entire roster tests positive? Forfeit?

At this point if a bunch of Cs have Covid then a bunch of Heat will too - now that they’ve played 48 minutes of basketball together.  If NBA keeps the isolation rule, they should also have a rule that postpones competition if a certain number of players are sidelined.

To Erik’s point, not sure you are correct that this should be treated like any other virus… yet.  The contagion and impact on vulnerable populations might still put this in a unique category. You have the benefit of certainty, others of course listen to other sources, and don’t.  I hope NBA listens to multiple perspectives before determining change in policy.   In relatively short time they’ve gone from bubble to full, maskless arenas; from mass testing to only non-Vaxed testing… so it’s not as if there’s been no movement. Being cautious as to spread amongst players may still be wise (you are certain it isn’t, but I’m not) but shouldn’t have to cause forfeiture.

[pokeKingCurtis]

What if the entire roster tests positive? Forfeit?

[kiwiceltic]

This is the reaction form this group? Not surprised. How about “who cares about COVID anymore?”

Isn’t it about time that we just be normal and play a bit sick? If the player can’t go, that’s one thing… but I don’t think we should let this nonsense change a playoffs series if the player could go.

That’s sports. You get hurt, you get sick, and you play through it if you can… especially in the ECF amongst the most physically healthy human beings on the planet.

Play on. Get rid of this rule.

I specifically remember JT saying how bad having Covid impacted his ability to function as a high level athlete.

Just “playing through it” probably isn’t the smartest option