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Bradley Beal said the Washington Wizards “fight the league” by playing the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday with just eight players available and six Wizards sidelined by NBA health and safety protocol.
After a nine-day hiatus due to a coronavirus outbreak within the squad that led to the postponement of five games, the Wizards were finally allowed to resume training on Wednesday night. But the team only had eight players available and basically did light shooting, according to coach Scott Brooks.
“We couldn’t get into a gym for a week,” said Beal, whose team hasn’t played since Jan. 11 against the Phoenix Suns. “It changes the pace, the shape of the guys – it’s just like a recipe for injury, honestly. I think we’re fighting the league.”
With a lack of healthy bodies and little conditioning, Beal said he and Russell Westbrook planned to talk to Michele Roberts, the executive director of the National Basketball Players Association, about the Wizards’ options for staying safe.
Beal said that in addition to the Wizards’ desire not to get hurt, players in the league had “mixed feelings” about wanting to keep playing and making money while keeping themselves and their people safe. relatives.
“We already have some injured guys,” Beal said. “Now we have a big part of our squad, like over 50%, with the virus now … we hear about the league tonight, hear them tomorrow and see what they want to do.”
The Wizards, who are due to start a four-game road trip in Milwaukee on Friday, have registered Davis Bertans, Rui Hachimura, Deni Avdija, Troy Brown Jr., Ish Smith and Moritz Wagner for the game against the Bucks due to their health and protocols. of security.
Westbrook (quad) was reassessed this week and remains out and Thomas Bryant (left ACL) is out for the season. Westbrook did some light fieldwork on Wednesday night and will travel with the team on the next road trip. But Brooks said he wasn’t sure when Westbrook would be allowed to play.
The Wizards are expected to have Beal, Robin Lopez, Raul Neto, Garrison Mathews, Jerome Robinson, Isaac Bonga, Anthony Gill and Cassius Winston available to play.
Brooks said the team was unable to train until Wednesday night. The Wizards are expected to practice again Thursday morning with about 3 to 4 p.m. between the two sessions before playing the Bucks.
“It’s going to put us in a very difficult position to have a game on Friday night,” said Brooks. “If they make us play the game, obviously we have to play the game. I don’t know how we’re going to be able to play it but we’re going to do our best no matter what the league tells us what to do. I believe in the game. league. “
The Memphis Grizzlies-Portland Trail Blazers game Wednesday night became the 16th game postponed by the NBA this season.
“[COVID-19] is around everyone, “Brooks said.” It’s not a hoax. There are over 400,000 Americans [who] died with this virus. And we take it seriously. You are obviously concerned. “
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