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Doc Rivers ‘very concerned’ about the level of freedom the players will have this season

Photo: Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times

Doc Rivers shared some of his concerns regarding the 2020/21 season in the NBA.

Rivers, the new head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers, is ‘very concerned’ about the level of freedom the players will have this season, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“Well, this is a little different (than the bubble) because now we’re at home and we’re with our family and friends. We can order and eat wherever we want to — whichever restaurants that are still serving or open.

So there’s a little more freedom. Having said that, that’s my concern. The food’s not my concern — I’m thrilled to death about that — but the freedom is a concern.

I’m very concerned if we can pull this off. … If we miss three or four players, we’re in trouble, especially with the amount of games. We’re playing three and four games a week, so if one of our guys or two of our key guys get the virus and they miss 10 days to 14 days, that can be eight games.

In a 72-game season, that can knock you out of the playoffs. That’s a concern. Our guys’ health is a concern. And that’s tough. As a coach, you want to go in with your team concerns being more (about) basketball, and I think every coach’s concerns right now are probably non-basketball,” Rivers told reporters, via NBC Sports Philadelphia.

The NBA is inclined to impose strict punishments to any players or staff members that will violate the health protocol.

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