Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Heat players huddle, hear a virus primer
MIAMI — The Miami Heat’s Tuesday practice at AmericanAirlines Arena also was about practicing good hygiene.
Basically, it is a sign of the times amid the coronavirus outbreak.
“That’s another reason why we came in [Tuesday],” coach Erik Spoelstra said ahead of Wednesday night’s game against the visiting Orlando Magic. “We met about it. We watched a film about it. We tried to provide some more education and awareness, just that this is real.
“And we have to be more diligent about our cleanliness, washing our hands. It’s probably not a great thing right now, just in terms of human interaction. There could be less people like slapping high fives and interacting with fans and things like that. That’s the part that’s a bummer.
“But we do have to be, certainly, very mindful about it and then continue to educate. This is just one meeting. I don’t think this is going to stop with just [Tuesday’s meeting].”
The NBA has been in contact with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, issuing a memo that read, “The coronavirus remains a situation with the potential to change rapidly.”
Heat center Kelly Olynyk said he can appreciate the concern.
“It kind of just reminds me when I was a kid,” he said. “SARS was a huge epidemic up in Canada. I’m not sure what it was like down here. But you just got to do what you can, keep clean, wash your hands. If people are sick, stay away and control what you can control.”
Tuesday’s session included input from trainer Jay Sabol.
“Maybe it’s not going to be the same as in the past, when you signed autographs and high-fived the fans,” guard Goran Dragic said. “Maybe that’s going to be a little bit less on our part. And the fans, they need to understand that.
‘Yeah, wash your hands, try not to touch your face and try to stay away from the crowd. Prevention, washing your hands, I think is going to be huge. Yeah, it’s not ideal, but, you know, we need to be careful.”
Forward Jimmy Butler said what is important is being prepared, not scared.
“Fans are fans. They’re going to be there to show love and support. I think I’m going to keep it the way I always keep it,” he said. “Dap people up, high five. If it’s meant to be, then it’s meant to be, I guess.”
Asked if he was perhaps taking the situation too lightly, Butler said, “Man, it’s part of life. You can’t control everything. I guess you can try to control as much as you can. But I’m just going to keep being who I am. The happy, joyful person that I am.
“I love my fans, man. They’re always coming out there to support. I’m going to still be me.”