Boston Celtics: COVID-19 is team’s toughest opponent in 2021-22 season
By Raj Lavadi
The Boston Celtics are facing problems regarding the health of their roster.
COVID-19 has been a part of the national and international news ever since its origin. Fast forward almost two years later, and its presence is still known globally.
The United States leads all countries with the total number of cases since the genesis of COVID-19, with India trailing behind. India, however, is recording a higher number of new cases when compared to the USA.
Can Boston Celtics fans expect a complete and, more importantly, a HEALTHY roster for all games this season?
Fans distinctly remember the entry of the virus into the NBA, first affecting Utah Jazz stars Rudy Gobert and then Donovan Mitchell.
Gobert infamously touched all mics during a pre-game interview while mocking the virus, got his co-star infected, and later apologized for his actions. Thus began the turbulent course that unfolded.
The NBA initially canceled games and then later entertained playing in a controlled environment—the bubble. The NBA hastily finished the remainder of the season and playoffs, crowning LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers as champions of a season where sports were considered an afterthought.
During this course of events, several Celtics became ill. Marcus Smart, nicknamed the ‘Cobra’ (due to his signature diving attempts to grab loose balls) and more recently ‘Wolverine’ (due to his miraculous ability to speedily recover from injuries), was the first one to contract the virus. Later on down the line, Jayson Tatum and Robert Williams were also affected.
Several other players had to be questioned for contact tracing. Former Celtics Avery Bradley and Evan Fournier also tested positive. Most recently, first-year Celtics head coach Ime Udoka tested positive, proving that we aren’t out of the woods yet in regards to COVID.