Here's why Boston athletes will benefit from time off amid coronavirus outbreak

by **gyso** Fri Mar 13, 2020 7:47 am

https://sports.yahoo.com/heres-why-boston-athletes-benefit-215827717.html

The COVID-19 outbreak is extremely serious with the NBA, NHL, MLS, and MLB suspending their seasons for player, staff and fan safety.

But, the professional athletes in Boston will highly benefit from the time off -- especially with the Stanley Cup Playoffs and NBA Postseason right around the corner.

Obviously there's no timetable for any of the leagues listed above to resume play, but with that in question, let's take a look at each team's current situation and how they vary.

NHL puts 2019-20 season on hold

Boston Celtics

The NBA was the first professional league to suspend its season following the news that Utah Jazz player Rudy Gobert (and later Donovan Mitchell) tested positive for the coronavirus. The Celtics played the Jazz twice in the span of 10 days, and are now self-quarantining on the NBA's recommendation.

Here's where the C's stand during the NBA's postponement of the season:

43-21 record.

5-5 in their last 10 games.

Third place in the Eastern Conference.

The Celtics were struggling over the course of the past couple weeks. They lost four of their last six games, with their two wins coming against the fifth-place Indiana Pacers and last place Cleveland Cavaliers.

Their struggles could be largely in part to the inability to close out games, but also injuries to key players like Jaylen Brown and Kemba Walker. So, quite obviously, Boston could use the rest in order to nurse some of their players back to health.
Brown missed four straight games thanks to a hamstring strain, while Walker has been limited at times due to his ongoing knee issues.

With this extended period of rest, the C's should hopefully be fully healthy and geared up for the final stretch, as well as the playoffs, when the NBA season resumes.

However, if the NBA does extend the season, this could allow the injured Kevin Durant to return for the Brooklyn Nets this season, as mentioned on Felger and Mazz earlier today. With the Nets being a possible playoff matchup for the C's it wouldn't exactly be ideal if he was to return.

My note: For other Boston area sports teams, click on the link provided.

by **worcester** Fri Mar 13, 2020 8:41 pm

Durant will not play this year. Period.

Here's why Boston athletes will benefit from time off amid coronavirus outbreak

Here's why Boston athletes will benefit from time off amid coronavirus outbreak

Re: Here's why Boston athletes will benefit from time off amid coronavirus outbreak