Subscribe
Follow Us
The Miami Heat are now set to be without forward Caleb Martin for what appears to be an extended period after the 26-year-old tested positive for COVID-19. Martin has been placed under the league's health and safety protocols despite reportedly being asymptomatic. This has prompted quite a reaction from Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra who had a few things to say about the NBA's protocols.
Spoelstra did not hold back as he questioned the league's sweeping policy on COVID-19. The Heat shot-caller even touched on the issue of vaccination as he went on a rather lengthy tirade against the league's decision-making with respect to the virus:
“I think we all have to figure this out right now,” Spoelstra said, via Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. “Are players missing games because they’re symptomatic? Or are they asymptomatic? Has everybody gotten their shots and their boosters? Why would they be held out extensively longer than if they have the flu?
“I think there’s a contradiction there and if you just go hunting for, and add more testing and try to find things, you probably will.”
Coach Spo clearly doesn't agree with some of the protocols that are in place. It also sounds like the Heat coach is suggesting that the NBA must take additional steps to ensure that they are able to properly handle COVID-related issues that arise.
Spoelstra then spoke about Martin, who was coming off a career performance against the Milwaukee Bucks last week. The 6-foot-5 wing dropped 28 points against Giannis Antetokounmpo and Co. as Martin led a shorthanded Heat side to a surprise win over the defending champs. Coach Spo described how disheartened Martin was to learn about being placed on the league's health and safety protocols shortly after his offensive explosion.
“He was frustrated,” Spoelstra said. “Come on, the guy came off the best game of his career as a professional athlete. He was preparing for [Saturday’s] game to play. And he felt like he could play. I understand his frustration. I feel for him. These are extraordinary times. They’re not like normal times from two years ago.
“But having asymptomatic players sitting out. I don’t know if that’s the answer or for losing extended periods of time, two weeks or 10 days, without any course of recourse to that.”
Does Erik Spoelstra have a point here? Is it time for the league to revisit its COVID-19 protocols? This is a controversial stance, to say the least.
