Bubble Part 2?

Back in August the NBA officially resumed the 2019-2020 NBA season from its suspension in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  The NBA bubble was born and what a success it was.  The Walt Disney World property hosted, and they did a phenomenal job.  It took everyone to work together and form a vacuum-tight, COVID-19 free area where the teams could battle it out to fight for the Larry O’Brien.  The Los Angeles Lakers emerged victorious defeating the Miami Heat and all of a sudden, the Bubble was no more…or is it?

We are now entering week 4 of the NBA season filled with protocols to prevent the spread.  Adam Silver sat down with health officials and created these protocols with safety and health in mind.  Below are some of the highlights of those protocols per the NBA. 

• Anyone who tests positive will have two routes to return to work; go 10 days or more after the first positive test or onset of symptoms, or test negative twice at least 24 hours apart via PCR testing
• Any player who tests positive, even if asymptomatic, will not be allowed to exercise for a minimum of 10 days and then must be monitored in individual workouts for an additional two days.  
• Team traveling parties will be limited to 45 people, including 17 players, as they make their way around the country to play a home-and-road schedule in NBA arenas

Although there are protocols in place the season is already being tested.  The Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics have had to suit up with less than nine available players against an opponent due to COVID-19 protocols.  There have also been players across the league testing positive or being ruled out due to contact tracing.  Is it realistic to expect this season to finish without a Bubble?  I feel as if the NBA would be better off creating multiple bubbles around the country so that teams can safely play each other.  The NBA could adjust the schedule and group teams, play a set number of games, and then rotate to the next Bubble with safety protocols in place.  Adam Silver recently said, “A bubble is our emergency plan”, Mr. Silver might want to think about breaking that glass if he wants to continue the 2020-2021 NBA season.