Virus concerns overshadowing Xmas slate

Anthony Davis is injured and out for at least a month. Klay Thompson’s incredibly long recovery is not quite finished. Kyrie Irving is almost certainly not going to be ready to make his season debut.

The NBA’s Christmas lineup was already going to be missing some stars.

And then ... there’s COVID-19.

The virus-related numbers around the league are skyrocketing, and there’s certainly a strong chance that some teams playing on Christmas this year will be without key players. Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, Atlanta’s

Trae Young, Golden State’s Andrew Wiggins and Brooklyn teammates Kevin Durant and James Harden — all scheduled to be showcased on Christmas this year — are all sidelined right now.

It’s possible each may be back soon. It’s possible some may not be back by Saturday. Nobody knows. “This is not all happening again is it,” Hawks guard Kevin Huerter tweeted, the question that has undoubtedly been on plenty of minds in recent days.

Sure seems like it is. A year ago at Christmas, the pandemic was only keeping fans away from most arenas. Phrases like “health and safety protocols” or “in the protocols” weren’t truly yet part of the NBA lexicon. Now, there are more players dealing with virus-related issues than there are injuries.

And the NBA knows the numbers are almost certainly going to get worse before they get better; that’s one of the reasons why they are now allowing teams to replace players who test positive without any salary cap or luxury tax repercussions. The league memo announcing that decision said the amended policy will be in effect until mid-January, at least.

“We have to make these adjustments because of the situation,” Phoenix coach Monty Williams said Monday.