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James Harden, Paul Millsap and Jevon Carter have been cleared from the NBA’s well being and security protocols, and the Brooklyn Nets predict to have sufficient gamers for his or her Christmas Day sport towards the Los Angeles Lakers regardless of having three extra gamers enter the protocols.
Nets coach Steve Nash stated that whereas Harden, Millsap and Carter have been cleared, Cam Thomas, David Duke Jr. and Kessler Edwards have entered the protocols. Even if the Nets haven’t been capable of follow as a gaggle this week as a consequence of a COVID-19 outbreak that has seen as many as 13 Nets enter the protocols since Dec. 13, Nash stated he expects the Christmas sport with the Lakers (8 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN) to nonetheless be on from the Nets’ perspective.
Nash added that he didn’t count on every other Nets at the moment within the protocols to be cleared in time to play Saturday. Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, LaMarcus Aldridge, DeAndre’ Bembry, Bruce Brown, James Johnson and Day’Ron Sharpe went into the well being and security protocols from Dec. 14 to Dec. 18.
“We aren’t anticipating anybody else to return out of protocols [in time for the Christmas Day game], however it’s potential,” Nash stated Thursday morning. “I believe it’s important to do two damaging assessments 24 hours aside. I suppose that offers us to tonight and tomorrow night time to return two negatives, however we aren’t predicting anyone to return out essentially.”
The Nets plan to fly to Los Angeles on Friday with not less than the required minimal of eight gamers to play in a sport.
“Now we have sufficient to play,” Nash stated. “I believe we signed 4 G League guys. So we’ve loads to get to eight.”
Millsap was the primary Nets participant to enter the well being and security protocols on Dec. 13. Harden, Johnson, Carter, Brown, Bembry and Aldridge adopted on Dec. 14. Decimated by COVID-19, the Nets opted to reverse course and let Irving return as a part-time participant for street video games solely. However then Irving, Durant and Sharpe entered the protocols on Saturday.
Nash stated that when Irving clears the protocols, the purpose guard nonetheless has to ramp as much as play in an NBA sport since he has not practiced commonly with the crew since early October in the course of the first week of the crew’s coaching camp in San Diego. The Nets determined in the course of the preseason to not have Irving be with the crew as a consequence of the truth that he couldn’t play in residence video games as a consequence of New York Metropolis’s vaccination mandate for gamers in New York to play at Barclays Heart and Madison Sq. Backyard.
“I believe he has to do some type of ramp-up, some type of enjoying,” Nash stated of what Irving might want to do earlier than returning to motion. “Once you’re at residence understanding by your self, it is so much completely different. It depends upon what you are doing, however normally particular person exercises are half-court and 1-on-0, one-on-one, possibly he will get somewhat little bit of pickup basketball, however that in all probability was out the window as soon as everybody begins enjoying once more [during their season].
“So there’s, I believe, a ramp-up, a possibility for him to play somewhat bit whether or not it is with our group or the stay-ready group each time he is out of protocols. There is a ramp-up for positive.”
The Nets have had their previous three video games, towards Denver on Sunday, Washington on Tuesday and Portland on Thursday, postponed.
“We needed to shut all the pieces down simply out of precaution,” Nash stated of the Nets this week. “However as soon as we acquired again to a cadence, wholesome guys may do 1-on-0 exercises however no group exercises. It principally simply began up yesterday, and right this moment, guys are again on the court docket. And in isolation.
“It is difficult. We have not been capable of do so much, however we do what we are able to and we’ll proceed to adapt as the foundations and mandates are available in.”
Nash stated that the three newest Nets to enter the protocols — Thomas, Duke and Edwards — have been “largely asymptomatic” or skilled few signs. Nash additionally stated the crew wasn’t sure if middle Nic Claxton, who took a spill and harm his wrist towards the Philadelphia 76ers on Dec. 16 and didn’t play within the Nets’ final sport towards the Orlando Magic on Dec. 18, shall be out there to play this weekend. Shooter Joe Harris, who underwent ankle surgical procedure, is progressing however won’t return on this journey, Nash stated.
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