Bradley Beal said the Washington Wizards are “fighting the league” by playing against the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday, with only eight players available and six Wizards outside of the NBA’s health and safety protocol.
After a nine-day hiatus due to a coronavirus outbreak in the team that led to the postponement of five games, the wizards were finally released to return to training on Wednesday night. But the team had only eight players available and practically took easy photos, according to coach Scott Brooks.
“I couldn’t get into a gym for a week,” said Beal, whose team hasn’t played against the Phoenix Suns since Jan. 11. “That changes the pace, the shape of the boys – that’s exactly like a recipe for injury, honestly. I think we’re struggling with the league on that.”
With a lack of healthy bodies and little conditioning, Beal said he and Russell Westbrook intended to talk to Michele Roberts, executive director of the National Players ‘Basketball Association, about wizards’ options for staying safe.
Beal said that in addition to the wizards who want to stay unscathed, players throughout the league have had “mixed feelings” about their desire to continue to play and earn money, while keeping themselves and those dear safe.
“We already have guys with injuries,” Beal said. “Now we have a huge chunk of our team, like over 50%, with the virus now … we hear from the league tonight, we hear about them tomorrow and we see what they want to do.”
The Wizards, who are scheduled to begin a four-game trip to Milwaukee on Friday, listed Davis Bertans, Rui Hachimura, Deni Avdija, Troy Brown Jr., Ish Smith and Moritz Wagner for the game against the Bucks because of health and protocol. of safety.
Westbrook (quad) was re-evaluated this week and remains out and Thomas Bryant (left ACL) is out of season. Westbrook did some light work on the field Wednesday night and will travel with the team on their next road trip. But Brooks said he wasn’t sure when Westbrook would be allowed to play.
Wizards are expected to have Beal, Robin Lopez, Raul Neto, Garrison Mathews, Jerome Robinson, Isaac Bonga, Anthony Gill and Cassius Winston at their disposal.
Brooks said the team could not train until Wednesday night. The Wizards are scheduled to train again on Thursday morning, about 15-16 hours between the two sessions before playing the Bucks.
“It will put us in a very difficult position to have a game on Friday night,” Brooks said. “If they make us play the game, obviously we have to play the game. I don’t know how we can play, but we will do everything we can, no matter what league tells us what to do. I believe in the league.”
The Memphis Grizzlies-Portland Trail Blazers game Wednesday night became the 16th game that has been postponed by the NBA this season.
“[COVID-19] it’s all around, “Brooks said.” This is not a hoax. There are over 400,000 Americans [who] they died of this virus. And we take it seriously. You are obviously worried. “