For the first time during the pandemic, the NBA is maneuvering its way through multiple teams having positive COVID-19 tests. Unfortunately the Sixers seem to be getting the short end of the stick, leaving fans across the Delaware Valley trying to figure out why.
The Celtics had their game yesterday against the Heat postponed when they did not have enough eligible players to suit up. This afternoon, it was announced Boston’s next game on Tuesday against the Bulls will also be postponed for the same reason.
The Dallas Mavericks had their game tonight postponed against the Pelicans for the same reason as Boston.
Meanwhile, the story has been much different for our Sixers…
On Thursday, the Sixers learned during the first quarter of their game against the Nets that Seth Curry had a positive test. Curry was not playing, but he was sitting on the bench and had to immediately leave. However, in similar fashion with Justin Turner in the World Series, the game still went on.
The whole team then needed to stay in Brooklyn to quarantine and do contact tracing. It was later deemed the Sixers could have nine eligible players for their game against the Nuggets on Saturday, one more than the required minimum. They still decided to not have Simmons and Embiid play, forcing the team to go out with only seven players. The Sixers scheduled games for tonight and tomorrow are still on, and it is uncertain if they can have more players active.
On top of this, Chris Haynes reported first today that Philadelphia has been fined $25,000 for failing to list Simmons on the team’s initial injury report for the game on Saturday.
All of this news over recent days has left Sixers fans confused and angry as to why this is happening to Philly but not other teams. It even got Embiid to show his frustration on Twitter yesterday.
THEY HATE THE PROCESS
— Joel “Troel” Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) January 10, 2021
6 years later, still living rent free in their heads…. YES I WOKE UP AND CHOSE VIOLENCE
— Joel “Troel” Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) January 10, 2021
While other teams are not being forced to play with shortened rosters due to the virus, the Sixers are not getting the same treatment. The NBA schedule was purposefully made flexible so that games could be rescheduled for later in the season if needed. After the team got off to a hot start, these games with several players out could bring them back down to Earth.
This is a bad break for the Sixers. It sucks the league is not being consistent with how they are handling virus outbreaks, and it makes it even worse our team is getting the wrong end on it. Whoever is making these calls for the NBA, please do better.
