An extended road trip for the Houston Rockets at the NBA’s restart location near Orlando begins this Thursday, July 9. Should they accomplish their goals and play all the way into the NBA Finals, their stay could last more than three months, in total.
Even family members will not be allowed to enter Disney’s “bubble” complex until after the first round of the 2020 playoffs, which won’t wrap up until late August. It’s all part of the league’s comprehensive COVID-19 safety protocols, which are designed to keep the total headcount as low as possible and reduce the chances of any viral outbreak.
Excluding other NBA personnel, that means at least six weeks of relative isolation for players and coaches. Given their sacrifice for the sake of the 2019-20 season, Rockets GM Daryl Morey feels that he should be there, too. In a Monday Zoom chat with members of the media, he said:
I think it would be pretty bad to ask the players to do something that I’m not doing.
Just over three weeks after Thursday’s arrival, Houston’s regular season is scheduled to resume on July 31 versus Dallas.
The Rockets (40-24), who have already clinched a playoff spot, are currently tied for the No. 5 spot in the Western Conference and could finish anywhere between No. 2 and No. 7 in the final standings.
