Zion Williamson a Game-Time Decision for Pelicans vs. Jazz NBA Restart Opener
Jul 29, 2020
New Orleans Pelicans' Zion Williamson (1) during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Williamson had left the NBA's bubble in Orlando, Florida, because of a family emergency, but he returned Friday and tested negative for the coronavirus, per Malika Andrews of ESPN. League protocols required him to be quarantined through Tuesday.
The time away made him questionable to appear in Thursday's 6:30 p.m. ET matchup, which will be the first official game of the NBA's restart. Williamson did practice Tuesday and Wednesday.
"Literally any player on our roster who went 13 days without doing any physical activity, it isn't going to be a given that we would just cut them loose in that next game," Pelicans manager David Griffin said Monday. "Particularly a player that generates as much torque as he does. So we will see where he's at."
New Orleans knows how to survive without the 6'6", 284-pound South Carolina native as the rookie has only played 19 games this year because of a knee injury. A deep lineup led by Brandon Ingram and Jrue Holiday have helped the team through the exhibition games and should remain competitive when things start to count.
However, every game is important for the Pelicans with just eight contests to earn a playoff spot.
Williamson has proved he can be a key part of the team's success after averaging 23.6 points and 6.8 rebounds per game in his limited action before the season was suspended. Even if his conditioning is less than ideal, New Orleans could benefit from the Duke product being on the court in any capacity.
NBA Playoff Standings 2020: Odds, Seedings Info for Restart Format
Jul 29, 2020
FILE - In this March 10, 2020, file photo, Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James (23) dribbles during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets in Los Angeles. If James gets his way, NBA arenas and other sports venues around the country will be mega polling sites for the November general election. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)
Now that all 22 NBA bubble teams have warmed up with three scrimmage games, we're back to regular-season action Thursday.
The league restart will begin with a doubleheader, featuring the Utah Jazz vs. the New Orleans Pelicans and the Los Angeles Clippers vs. the Los Angeles Lakers. We may see a lot of star power in those games.
Zion Williamson returned to the bubble after he attended to a family matter. According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Pelicans star cleared quarantine Tuesday, and he'll practice leading up to Thursday's contest.
For Thursday's second contest, LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are healthy. According to Wojnarowski, Anthony Davis' status is uncertain because of an eye injury. The team rested him during the last two practices.
Let's take a look at the Vegas odds to win a 2020 title, the current standings and a few technical aspects of the NBA resumption.
Teams that fed off the home crowd lose that advantage this year. Most notably, the Philadelphia 76ers (29-2), Milwaukee Bucks (28-3) and Miami Heat (27-5) had the top three records as hosts.
For the remainder of the campaign, the league will play its games at the Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Florida.
While the Orlando Magic play their home games nearby at the Amway Center, general manager John Hammond isn't buying into the "home-court advantage," per NBA.com.
"We're going to be 30 minutes away from home," Hammond said. "But we might as well be in Los Angeles."
If the Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers hold as the No. 1 seeds, both squads may have tough routes to the NBA Finals without their fans cheering them on and heckling the opposition. Opponents won't have to battle jitters in a hostile environment. Players who struggle under pressure benefit most in this scenario.
Play-In Tournament For 8th Seed
The NBA tweaked the seeding rule for the final spot in each conference. If the ninth seed finishes four or more games behind the eighth seed, the top eight teams will advance to the playoffs.
However, if the ninth seed is four or fewer games behind the eighth seed, the two clubs will face off in a play-in tournament for the last spot in the conference bracket.
The team with the better record just needs one victory to punch its ticket to the playoffs, while the ninth seed needs consecutive wins to leapfrog the eighth seed for a first-round series against the top team in the conference.
We're more likely to see a play-in tournament in the Western Conference.
Currently, the Portland Trail Blazers are 3.5 games behind the Memphis Grizzlies for the eighth spot, which would prompt a play-in series between the two squads. The Blazers would have to win twice for a first-round matchup with the No. 1 seed while the Grizzlies just need one victory to hold the final playoff slot.
In the Eastern Conference, the Washington Wizards sit 5.5 games behind the Brooklyn Nets. Head coach Scott Brooks' group will push forward without All-Star guard Bradley Beal, who's not going to play because of a shoulder injury, per Charania.
Still, the Nets may struggle through their final eight games. Kevin Durant (Achilles), Kyrie Irving (shoulder), DeAndre Jordan (COVID-19) and Spencer Dinwiddie (COVID-19) have been ruled out of action for the restart of the season. If Brooklyn slips below Orlando, Washington may have a chance to force a play-in tournament.
Best-of-7 Games Throughout Postseason
All 22 clubs will play their eighth game in the bubble by August 14. The postseason starts August 17 and extends through October 12 at the latest. The NBA Finals will tip off September 30. As usual, we'll see four full rounds of best-of-seven series matchups.
Teams with deeper benches could have an advantage against clubs battling injuries or missing players because of positive COVID-19 tests. If a star talent cannot compete because he's quarantined, someone has to fill that void.
Coaches cannot entirely replace a superstar's production, but two or three solid role players ready to log extra minutes could keep a contender alive in a tight series.
Report: Pelicans' Zion Williamson Clears Quarantine, Will Return to Practice
Jul 28, 2020
New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) runs up the court in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat in New Orleans, Friday, March 6, 2020. (AP Photo/Rusty Costanza)
Williamson previously left the NBA's bubble for a family emergency on July 16 and arrived back on July 24, immediately entering self-isolation.
The Pelicans will now have two practices to assess Williamson's readiness for the restart.
New Orleans will open the final eight games of the regular season Thursday night against the Utah Jazz at 6:30 p.m. ET on TNT.
In order for the Pelicans to make the postseason, they'll need to win the eighth seed by at least four games or hang onto ninth place while remaining no more than four games back of eighth place. The latter scenario would trigger a play-in series in which the ninth-place team must win two games before its opponent wins one to clinch a playoff berth.
The Pelicans are currently 3.5 games back of the eighth-seeded Memphis Grizzlies.
Williamson will be a big factor in whether or not New Orleans advances. In 19 games this season, the rookie is averaging 23.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 29.7 minutes per night. New Orleans has gone 10-9 with last year's No. 1 overall pick in the lineup this season.
Zion Williamson Expected to Re-Join Pelicans Practice on Wednesday
Jul 27, 2020
FILE - In this March 6, 2020, file photo, New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson walks onto the court during the second half of the team's NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat in New Orleans. The rookie sensation’s availability to play remained unclear as the season’s resumption in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, approached. He left the NBA’s so-called “bubble” setup on July 16 to attend to an unspecified family medical matter. A week later, the club had yet to provide an update on his possible return. (AP Photo/Rusty Costanza, File)
New Orleans Pelicans rookie Zion Williamson is expected to re-join the team for practice Wednesday after previously leaving for a family emergency, executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin announced Monday.
Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry later revealedWilliamson is set to clear quarantine on Tuesday.
Malika Andrews of ESPN reported the news, noting Williamson returned to the NBA bubble in Orlando Friday and tested negative for COVID-19.
He must quarantine for four days while being tested each day.
Returning to practice Wednesday would give Williamson a chance to play in the Pelicans' first seeding game Thursday against the Utah Jazz. However, the team will determine his availability based on his condition.
"Literally any player on our roster who went 13 days without doing any physical activity, it isn't going to be a given that we would just cut them loose in that next game," Griffin said. "Particularly a player that generates as much torque as he does. So we will see where he's at."
Williamson apparently did light workouts while away from the team and he now has workout equipment in his room to use while quarantining.
The rookie's presence will be a major storyline for the NBA as New Orleans tries to sneak into the playoffs. The squad enters the restart 3.5 games behind the Memphis Grizzlies for the final spot in the Western Conference, but will also have to compete with the Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs and Phoenix Suns.
An active Williamson would make a big difference for the Pelicans after he averaged 23.6 points and 6.8 rebounds per game in 19 appearances before the season was suspended. After a 20-31 start to the season, New Orleans had seemingly hit its stride down the stretch with an 8-5 record in the last 13 games.
Even if the 2019 No. 1 overall pick is less than 100 percent for the first seeding game, he should be able to make an impact before too long.
NBA's Hottest Designer Wants to Make More Than Fashion, He Wants to Make Art
Jul 27, 2020
If you follow the fashion-conscious stars of the NBA or NFL, not to mention the likes of Future or Migos, you're sure to have seen the signature logo hoodie of Olivier Rogers' eponymous label, Olivier. The image is bold and modern, with an assertive slant forward.
The same could be said about Olivier himself.
Born on the Caribbean island of Saint Martin (on the French side), Rogers is a self-proclaimed native of Providence, Rhode Island, having grown up there since the age of 12 after a stint in Brooklyn, New York. He doesn't have formal fashion training, but the instinct for the craft is in his DNA.
"I've always been into fashion," Rogers told B/R. "My mom's really into fashion. She always dressed nice. For the most part, I always knew I would either be making clothes or I would be a stylist."
BR Video
With his natural flair for style, and an understanding that looking good doesn't have to cost you (Rogers is an avid thrift shopper), he eventually started making his own clothes.
"I didn't want to keep spending my money on Raf Simons and all these other brands when I can make my own brand," he said. "... Now I put my money into my own stuff."
So, Rogers started planning. Once he finished high school, he'd build a brand after himself.
He did just that in 2017.
The belief in himself and his steadfast point of view—that style should not be dictated by trends—carries into his pieces. And to Rogers, they are pieces, garments not simply to be worn, but to be displayed, like art, each their own collector's item.
One day in the future, Rogers hopes to showcase all of these works as a collection at New York Fashion Week, and in exclusive boutique stores from Milan to Paris and beyond. He believes Olivier items shouldn't be easy to get because he wants them to increase in value.
Only a few years into his career as a fashion designer, Olivier Rogers has won over a growing list of NBA stars as well as musicians such as Future and Migos.
"I don't want it to be a thing where it's not worth anything later down the line," he added.
For now, the value in owning something from Olivier remains high, thanks to patrons such as Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Kemba Walker and other NBA tastemakers. Quavo and Tyga were the first to put Olivier on the map in one of the first shirts he ever made. NBA up-and-comers such as Kelly Oubre Jr. and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander keep Olivier in their rotations, and Rogers considers the young Oklahoma City Thunder guard a close friend.
"Shai is a person that definitely believes in my brand," Rogers said. "… We have a lot of the same taste in fashion."
Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, wearing an Olivier hoodie, has become one of Olivier Rogers' most enthusiastic clients.
While he acknowledges that big names both on and off the court cop his pieces, Rogers is quick to point out that this is still the beginning for him. What seems certain is that as the brand expands over time, so will its popularity.
Young NBA prospects like Jalen Green are already in the know when it comes to Olivier. And on Jan. 22, none other than Zion Williamson pulled up to his regular-season debut in a custom Olivier suit, with Rogers' logo printed all over the black-and-blue fit, while inside was a special nod to Zion's Duke roots.
If the future of fashion includes more Olivier, the NBA's young stars are already part of the movement. As Rogers puts it, the "sky's the limit for me."
NBA Western Conference Playoff Picture: Scenarios, Odds and 8th-Race Predictions
Jul 26, 2020
New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (14) dribbles as Miami Heat forward Derrick Jones Jr. (5) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Friday, March 6, 2020. (AP Photo/Rusty Costanza)
The NBA Western Conference standings could be significantly altered by the eight seeding games each team has to play in Orlando, Florida.
The No. 1 Los Angeles Lakers appear to be the only lock into their current seed, as they hold a 5.5-game advantage over the Los Angeles Clippers. There is a three-game gap between the Clippers and fourth-place Utah Jazz, and there are 2.5 games separating the Jazz and the No. 7 Dallas Mavericks.
While the race for seeding will be intriguing, the most attention should be paid to the competition for eighth place, which is led by the Memphis Grizzlies.
Six teams are vying for the final playoff position, and two appear to be on a collision course for a play-in series to earn the No. 8 seed. If the ninth-place squad is within four games of eighth, they will compete against each other for eighth.
Western Conference Standings
1. Los Angeles Lakers (49-14)
2. Los Angeles Clippers (44-20)
3. Denver (43-22)
4. Utah (41-23)
5. Oklahoma City (40-24)
6. Houston (40-24)
7. Dallas (40-27)
8. Memphis (32-33)
9. Portland (29-37)
10. New Orleans (28-36)
11. Sacramento (28-36)
12. San Antonio (27-36)
13. Phoenix (26-39)
Scenarios
The likeliest West scenario features the Lakers clinching the No. 1 seed. LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Co. need to win three games to land the top position.
There is an abundance of scenarios for the next six seeds, and the simplest involves the Clippers outperforming the Denver Nuggets by one win and Utah by three victories to lock down the No. 2 seed. The Clippers' potential first-round opponent could be Dallas, which has a seven-game advantage over Memphis. The Mavericks need a victory to become the seventh West team to clinch a playoff berth.
Memphis is the front-runner for the No. 8 seed, but it needs to put distance between itself and the five teams chasing its spot to avoid a play-in game.
The race for the No. 8 seed could come down to the two teams led by the favorites to win Rookie of the Year.
Although the Pelicans are 3.5 games back, they have an easier set of seeding games that features two meetings with the Sacramento Kings and one apiece against the Washington Wizards, San Antonio Spurs and Orlando Magic at the end.
New Orleans will also have Zion Williamson available for its opener against Utah. According to Stadium and The Athletic's Shams Charania, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 draft should be cleared after a four-day quarantine mandated by his departure from the bubble.
If Williamson, Brandon Ingram and Co. can pull a win out of two games against Utah and the Clippers, they could take advantage of the Memphis matchup for a third time this season and then get on a roll to finish.
The Pelicans won both meetings with the Grizzlies by a combined 38 points. In those games, Ingram was joined by a teammate above 20 points. Williamson did it once, and Holiday produced 36 in the January 20 triumph.
A victory August 3 could send the competing teams in different directions. While New Orleans faces a fairly easy road, Memphis closes with Utah, the Oklahoma City Thunder, Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks. The Jazz and Thunder need wins to earn high seeds in the West, and the Raptors and Celtics could need those contests to solidify their respective positions.
Even if they are paired in the play-in series, the Pelicans could have the upper hand because of their previous success and the momentum created from playing a weak schedule.
Zion Williamson Rejoins Pelicans in NBA Bubble, Required to Quarantine
Jul 24, 2020
FILE - In this March 6, 2020, file photo, New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson walks onto the court during the second half of the team's NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat in New Orleans. The rookie sensation’s availability to play remained unclear as the season’s resumption in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, approached. He left the NBA’s so-called “bubble” setup on July 16 to attend to an unspecified family medical matter. A week later, the club had yet to provide an update on his possible return. (AP Photo/Rusty Costanza, File)
The Pelicans announced Williamson had tested negative for the coronavirus daily since he left the team and would enter quarantine, per NBA protocol. On Saturday, Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported Williamson's quarantine would be four days, making him available for New Orleans' restart opener against the Utah Jazz on Thursday.
"My family and I appreciate the love and respect that everyone showed us while we dealt with a private family matter," Williamson said in a statement, per ESPN's Andrew Lopez. "I'm excited to rejoin my team in Orlando and look forward to getting back on the court with my teammates after quarantine."
Because the rookie had an excused absence, he is not subject to any penalties from the league.
New Orleans has two scrimmages remaining before resuming its season. The Pels will face the Denver Nuggets on Saturday and the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday.
The team is 3.5 games behind the eighth-place Memphis Grizzlies for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference with eight games to play. The Pelicans can earn a postseason bid by winning the eighth seed by four games. If they remain in ninth place and within four games of the eighth-place team, they would trigger a play-in series in which New Orleans would need to win two games before the eighth-place team wins one.
Zion Williamson Remains Without Timetable to Return to NBA Bubble, Pelicans Say
Jul 22, 2020
New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson walks onto the court during the second half of the team's NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat in New Orleans, Friday, March 6, 2020. (AP Photo/Rusty Costanza)
The New Orleans Pelicans remain unsure of when Zion Williamson will return to the team after he left to deal with an "urgent family matter."
The Pelicans added that Williamson has undergone daily COVID-19 testing and has yet to yield a positive result.
The Pelicans have three scrimmages scheduled for Wednesday, Saturday and Monday before they resume the 2019-20 season on July 30 against the Utah Jazz.
Williamson's availability immediately upon the restart could be in jeopardy. NBC Sports'Tom Haberstrohnoted the star rookie would potentially be quarantined for four days before he could enter the NBA's bubble at Walt Disney World Resort.
The 20-year-old hit the ground running after debuting in January. He had 22 points and seven rebounds in a little over 18 minutes in his first NBA game.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RF6O_wV_4qY
Through 19 appearances, the South Carolina native is averaging 23.6 points and 6.8 assists per game while shooting 58.9 percent from the floor.
New Orleans has eight seeding games to bridge the 3.5-game gap on the eighth-seeded Memphis Grizzlies in order to force a play-in series to make the playoffs.
The NBA's long layoff makes it a little more difficult to project how individual players and teams will perform. AssumingWilliamson would pick up where he left off, his absence would loom large were he to miss any games.
NBA Western Conference Playoff Picture: Predicting Final Seedings and Records
Jul 22, 2020
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) handles the ball against the Denver Nuggets during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, March 11, 2020, in Dallas. The Mavericks won 113-97. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
The Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers seem locked in a two-team race to represent the Western Conference in the NBA Finals.
The Lakers have a somewhat comfortable 5.5-game lead over the No. 2-seeded Clippers, who need to remain steady as the Denver Nuggets sit 1.5 games behind them in third spot. Head coach Mike Malone's squad could break up the Los Angeles teams' stronghold on the conference.
In the middle of the standings, we could see some movement because of a surge from an intriguing club with a key player who's healthier now than he's been over the last two seasons.
Two teams at the bottom of the bracket may have to play a couple of extra games to claim the final seed. Will the fans see two of the top rookies go head-to-head for a playoff spot?
Let's take a look at seeding and record projections for the West as teams prepare for exhibition games Wednesday.
Western Conference
1. Los Angeles Lakers (56-15)
2. Los Angeles Clippers (51-21)
3. Denver Nuggets (48-25)
4. Utah Jazz (46-26)
5. Dallas Mavericks (45-30)
6. Houston Rockets (44-28)
7. Oklahoma City Thunder (43-29)
8. New Orleans Pelicans (33-39)
9. Memphis Grizzlies (34-39)
10. Sacramento Kings (32-40)
11. Portland Trail Blazers (32-42)
12. San Antonio Spurs (28-43)
13. Phoenix Suns (27-46)
Los Angeles Clippers Hold on to No. 2 Seed
The Clippers have too much ground to cover for a shot at the No. 1 seed. With LeBron James and Anthony Davis healthy, the Purple and Gold should finish strong going into the playoffs.
The Clippers cannot go into cruise control with the Nuggets on their heels. With that said, Los Angeles will have Kawhi Leonard and Paul George to close out as the No. 2 seed in the conference.
George provided an encouraging update on his condition, specifically his surgically-repaired shoulders (h/t Jovan Buha of The Athletic).
"I'm feeling back to myself again," George said.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, Montrezl Harrell had to leave the bubble for a family emergency. Still, the Clippers have enough firepower with their two star forwards and three-time Sixth Man of the Year Lou Williams ready for action. At some point, sharpshooting guard Landry Shamet, who tested positive for COVID-19, could rejoin the club.
Dallas Mavericks Slide into the No. 5 Spot
Keep an eye on the Dallas Mavericks. This squad could leapfrog a couple of teams in the final eight games.
Head coach Rick Carlisle has an emerging star in Luka Doncic, who's an All-Star averaging 28.7 points, 9.3 rebounds and 8.7 assists per contest. In the frontcourt, Kristaps Porzingis has range on his shot, knocking down 2.5 triples per outing, and gives great effort on defense. He's seventh in blocked shots (106) this season.
Almost two years removed from a torn ACL, Porzingis is in good shape, per Callie Caplan of the Dallas Morning News.
"I knew if we had the chance [to resume the season], I had to be ready physically, mentally and in every other aspect, so I stayed ready the whole time,” Porzingis said. "I feel great physically, super excited. Mentally, I'm there. I was able to heal little things I had going on, and I’m super excited to get back on the court."
Porzingis thinks the Mavericks can exceed outside expectations.
"We don't want to try to go too far ahead," he said. "But I think all of our mindsets are that we’re a dangerous team, and I think we can surprise people."
Along with their two stars, the Mavericks have a sharpshooter who picks his spots beyond the arc. Seth Curry has converted on 45 percent of his three-point attempts. He's carved out a solid role on a talented Dallas team that's capable of winning a playoff series.
New Orleans Pelicans Take Over Eighth Seed
The New Orleans Pelicans won't have their young phenom to restart the season. Zion Williamson left the team for an "urgent family medical matter." Since he's out with an excused absence, the 20-year-old forward will need to quarantine for 10 days upon his return.
Even if Williamson misses more than a few games, the Pelicans can still take advantage of the easiest remaining schedule based on opponent winning percentage:
Cumulative opponent winning percentage, old schedule (at the time the season was suspended) vs. new schedule. pic.twitter.com/46L1z1HHH7
After games against the Utah Jazz and Clippers, New Orleans will play against sub-.500 teams, including the eighth-seeded Memphis Grizzlies.
Without Williamson on the floor, look for Brandon Ingram, Jrue Holiday, a slimmer JJ Redick and Lonzo Ball to keep this club in playoff contention.
Ingram developed into an All-Star this season, leading the Pelicans in scoring (24.3). He's familiar with Ball, who pushes the pace on offense. While they have youth and vigor, Holiday and Redick provide balance with their experience.
New Orleans will pull within four games of Memphis for the eighth seed to force a play-in matchup. Assuming Williamson returns in time to suit up, we'll see a classic battle between this year's top two draft picks with Ja Morant on the opposing squad.
Overall, the Pelicans have a stronger roster compared to the Grizzlies. Holiday and Redick should come up huge with their big-game experience. If New Orleans pushes the pace, Memphis will struggle to keep up on the scoreboard.
NBA Training Camps 2020: Top Comments, Injury News Ahead of Seeding Games
Jul 20, 2020
FILE - In this March 6, 2020, file photo, New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson walks onto the court during the second half of the team's NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat in New Orleans. A Florida appeals court has granted Williamson’s motion to block his former marketing agent’s effort to have the ex-Duke star answer questions about whether he received improper benefits before playing for the Blue Devils. The order Wednesday shifts the focus to separate but related case between the same litigants in federal court in North Carolina. (AP Photo/Rusty Costanza, File)
We're entering the last full week of training camps before the NBA restart officially resumes with seeding games on July 30.
In even better news, we'll begin to see scrimmages as soon as this Wednesday, when the Orlando Magic face off against the LA Clippers at 3:00 p.m. ET in the first preseason game.
This will be the first live game of basketball since the NBA suspended the season because of the coronavirus pandemic on March 11, following Rudy Gobert's positive test for COVID-19.
Each of the 22 teams in the "bubble" at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex outside of Orlando, Florida, for the season's resumption will play eight seeding games—the same as regular-season matchups—in preparation for the shortened playoffs.
Most teams are looking to use the upcoming games to regain some team chemistry and get back into the groove of competitive game play.
"For the Rockets, who returned to the practice court Sunday morning after Saturday's off day, the hope was that this week's scrimmages with opposing teams combined with the following week's start of actual games will foster sustained intensity."
Here's a look at some of the top storylines entering this week.
Players Leaving Orlando Bubble
JJ Redick's Comment to Zion Williamson
New Orleans lost its rising star for an indeterminate amount of time on Thursday when rookie Zion Williamson left the bubble to tend to a family emergency.
Not only is this a huge loss for the Pelicans, but also to the NBA generally—as many have speculated that Williamson's larger-than-life presence played a part in the structuring of the restart format.
"As much as it hurts to say, we've done it before," Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday said of not having Williamson to begin the restart, according to NBA.com. "We've done it where he's been out for a little bit this season. We're obviously excited to have him out there on the court, but with him gone and taking care of his family, we're holding down the fort for him. He's our brother and he needs to take care of his family, take care of his business, but this is nothing new."
JJ Redick—team leader and fellow Duke product—detailed what he said to Williamson following his departure on The JJ Redick Podcast on Thursday:
"I reached out to Zion and I told him we're going to do our best to hold it down for him until he gets back, whenever that is. As a teammate, he is a family member so we'll do our best to keep this thing rolling. Whatever is going on, we want the best for him. I feel awful for him because so much of this season has been a rollercoaster for him and it seemed like he was in such a good place so, hopefully, we get him back soon."
After Williamson sat out the beginning of the season as he recovered from surgery to repair his meniscus, he proved that his college hype translated to the big leagues by averaging 23.6 points and 6.8 rebounds on 58.9 percent shooting from the field over the course of 19 games. So, while the Pelicans are used to playing without him, his presence will be sorely missed.
NBA.com's Shaun Powell explained what the process for Williamson to get back into the bubble to begin playing games after he has taken care of his family matter would look like:
"Your next questions—when will he return, will he miss games and if so how many—are unanswered for now. He'll need to quarantine for four days if he's gone less than a week to keep with NBA campus protocol. If he is gone longer than a week, he will still quarantine for four days if he has a negative test for the final seven days he is gone. If he doesn't have the required testing, he will quarantine for 10 days."
Montrezl Harrell's Emotional Message
Another player who had to leave the NBA season restart for family reasons was Los Angeles Clippers center Montrezl Harrell.
The Athletic's Shams Charania reported on Friday that Harell had "departed from the Orlando bubble for an emergency family matter."
In the hours following that, the 26-year-old posted a message to his Instagram that made it seem as though the family emergency had to do with his grandmother, as well as stating that he wasn't "built for this":
Similar to Williamson, there's no timetable to Harrell's return to the bubble, and he'll possibly have to quarantine when he does. The center is a valuable asset off the bench for the Clippers, averaging 18.6 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 63 games before the 2019-20 season was suspended.
On Wednesday of last week, Sacramento took another hit when point guard De'Aaron Fox sprained his left ankle while practicing. The severity of his injury wasn't shared, but it was bad enough for him to undergo an MRI and will keep him sidelined for at least seven to 10 days.
After that, the 22-year-old will be re-evaluated; however, there's a chance he'll miss the first game against the Spurs on July 31 if he isn't given the all-clear.
How will this impact the Kings in the limited number of games they have to make a push for a playoff berth?
Well, Fox led the team in both scoring and assists before the season was cut short in March, meaning the Kings' ability to win games may be in jeopardy. He averaged a career-high 20.4 points per game, 6.8 assists and 4.0 rebounds on 47.5 percent shooting.
"[He's] someone I've called the head of our snake multiple times this season," coach Luke Walton said earlier this week, according to James Ham of NBC Sports Bay Area. "We put a lot on his plate, but he's got that ability to be one of those players."
However, in the meantime, Walton will most likely rely on veteran Corey Joseph—a wall on defense with enough experience to make him a valuable leader on the floor in the playmaker's absence.
What difference can Grayson Allen make in the Grizzlies' rotation when they resume play on July 31?
The guard was indefinitely sidelined back in January after he landed on his leg awkwardly and suffered a hip injury in a game against the Pistons. While he was not supposed to recover in time to play again this season, the NBA suspension has given him more time to recover.
Grayson Allen says he stayed in Memphis for the entire 10-week hiatus and rehabbed his injury 5-days a week.
He says it was “worth it to be where I’m at right now”.
According to the Commercial Appeal's Evan Barnes, Allen may find himself playing in the resumption of the season, which Barnes detailed in his breakdown of what the team will look like as the season restarts:
"Allen was supposed to be out for the season with a hip injury, but he's been practicing in Orlando and regaining his conditioning. He was finding his rhythm off the bench before his injury, but with Josh Jackson's emergence, can he reclaim his spot in the rotation?"
The Duke alum played an average of 16.6 minutes in 30 games before his injury, notching 7.4 points per game, 2.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists in the process. He seemed to be getting more comfortable in his role with Memphis than he was in Utah before his injury broke his momentum.
Josh Jackson did really well for himself in Allen's absence, averaging 10.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1,7 assists—meaning the two may be left fighting for minutes in the Grizzlies' seeding games.
