The last time the Brooklyn Nets played a game it was March 10 in Los Angeles, a surprising win by the shorthanded team that provided a boost in spirits _ a short-lived lift as the season was suspended a day later.
The Nets took the court against the New Orleans Pelicans Wednesday night for a scrimmage, their first game since that day and what seemed shorthanded in March is very different than what the Nets face as they resume the season.
Three of the starters from that game _ Spencer Dinwiddie, DeAndre Jordan and Wilson Chandler _ are not with the team in Orlando now. Another starter, Joe Harris, was sitting this one out after practicing with the team all week. Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant bowed out of the resumption of the season in the bubble-like campus at ESPN's Wide World of Sports complex in Orlando. And as they begin their scrimmage schedule even the roster fill-ins will be mostly sidelined. Jamal Crawford, Tyler Johnson and Justin Anderson were held out as they acclimate to the new system and work their way back into NBA game shape. But no matter who they put on the court, nothing was going to be quite normal. In the background, COVID-19 loomed and the question remains: Will they get to the finish line?
"I think overall health still is a priority," Nets coach Jacque Vaughn said. "We see the effect that it's having on our country and where we are, So I think it's our responsibility to really not give in to relaxing any of the standards that are put into place. The protocols have been established for a reason. An extreme amount of research has gone into it. It's up to us to hold up our end of the responsibility and continue to hold those protocols in place.
"I think guys have settled into the fact that they will sweat on guys, you will have some physical contact. That's part of our sport. I think their minds are eased _ we get tested every single day. So that part of it has given guys the belief and credibility that if you follow protocols to the best of your ability then we can get this thing accomplished."
Anderson, who just practiced for the first time with the team, revealed that the long delay in getting on the court and officially on the roster was because of multiple positive tests for COVID-19, making him the ninth Nets player to test positive for the virus since testing began in March.
"It's something we wanted to try and keep in-house because we weren't quite sure when we'd be able to pass the protocols," Anderson said on a Zoom call Tuesday night. "Battling between negative and positive tests, battling between trying to make sure I got here in a car service rather than a plane to make sure I continue to follow protocol. It was just a long journey."
Anderson briefly played with the Nets on a 10-day contract in January and then was with the team's G League affiliate when the season was halted. He returned home to Atlanta during the suspension of the season and while working out he found himself dealing with mixed results of testing.
"That's when I got the call that I'd quarantine there once I got tested in Atlanta," Anderson said. "First positive, then a negative, then a positive, followed up with more back-and-forth results ... But credit to Mark Bartelstein: He kept me positive and optimistic and kept my mental really good to prepare me to get here. We worked together and I'm glad it finally happened."
Notes & quotes: The Nets would not comment on a report from sportico.com that former MSG executive vice president John Abbamondi was hired as the team president.
