A change of season
Fans facing Christmas adjustment should COVID affect holiday schedule
NEW YORK — Dear Knicks fans and MSG staffers, Omicron and the NBA’S TV contract may screw up your Christmas.
The league sent out a memo Tuesday informing teams scheduled for the five Christmas games to prepare for a possible time change. The fear is the virus outbreak will force a postponement, and the memo stated the league’s priority is to fill the ABC timeslots at 2:30 p.m., 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.
The Knicks host the Hawks in the first Christmas game at noon, leaving their matchup as a candidate to get pushed back if a later game is postponed. Another option would be to move the Mavericks-jazz from 10 p.m. to an earlier tipoff.
Games currently in the primetime slots are Celtics-bucks (2:30 p.m.), Warriors-suns (5 p.m.) and Nets-lakers (8 p.m.).
In the memo, the league stated it may change a tipoff time as late as Christmas Eve but not on Christmas. Of course, the league believes and hopes that no Christmas games will be postponed as rosters stricken with COVID-19 infections can be filled with hardship exemption signings. The Knicks, for instance, have already signed three players to 10-day contracts since Saturday.
Seven NBA games have been postponed this season, including five this week as the Omicron variant swept through the country. Swapping tipoff times fulfills TV contracts but would obviously be a major headache to any fans who purchased tickets around their Christmas plans. There’s also the logistical nightmare of informing MSG workers on short notice they’re needed at a different time on Christmas.
There’s already guaranteed to be a diminished product on the court. Six Knicks are currently in COVID-19 protocols, including RJ Barrett, Obi Toppin and Immanuel Quickley. The Hawks are also decimated with Trae Young, Clint Capela and Danilo Gallinari all testing positive within the last three days.
It could resemble more of a G-league matchup than a marquee Christmas NBA game.
Commissioner Adam Silver declared Tuesday the league has no plans to pause the season but brought up the possibility of shortening the time in COVID protocols for players who are asymptomatic and vaccinated.