MY ACCOUNT
Draymond Green has questioned the NBA as he felt the Denver Nuggets will gain an advantage after the cancellation of their clash with the Golden State Warriors.
The Warriors were set to face Denver in the second of a two-game showdown on Friday, but a coronavirus outbreak within Michael Malone’s camp has forced the game to be called off.
The Nuggets were left without the necessary eight players for the clash to go ahead, while coach Malone entered the league’s health and safety protocols on Thursday along with other staff members, including two assistant coaches, according to reports.
On the same day, forwards Jeff Green and Zeke Nnaji and guard Bones Hyland had also entered protocols, with injuries to several Nuggets players leaving them short-handed.
But Warriors forward Green, who was absent due to protocols for Tuesday’s 89-86 loss to the Nuggets, was left frustrated by the postponement as he thinks his side will be disadvantaged by the decision.
“How do you continue to cancel games when you’ve implemented rules to prevent this from happening?” Green posted to Twitter. “Is that not a competitive advantage for other teams?
“The guys we didn’t have due to the protocol list played no role in Tuesday’s loss? Pick a side but don’t straddle the fence.
“So when the game is rescheduled (which will probably take a day away from our “break”), we will play them at full strength… But they got to sneak a win when we weren’t at full strength, only two days ago??? Let’s make it make some sense here.”
How do you continue to cancel games when you’ve implemented rules to prevent this from happening? Is that not a competitive advantage for other teams? The guys we didn’t have due to the protocol list played no role in Tuesdays loss? Pick a side but don’t straddle the fence.
It is the 11th game to be postponed this season for coronavirus-related issues, though Green is worried about the scheduling issues it may cause.
The Golden State star added: “Not to mention, this will more than likely add a back to back to our schedule, which is also advantage Denver.”
In Malone’s absence, assistant coach David Adelman will reportedly serve as acting head coach for the Nuggets.
Malone is the seventh NBA coach to enter the protocols, joining Doc Rivers (Philadelphia), Frank Vogel (Lakers), Monty Williams (Phoenix), Billy Donovan (Chicago), Chauncey Billups (Portland) and Mark Daigneault (Oklahoma City).
The Warriors are next due to be in action against the Utah Jazz on Sunday when Denver face the Houston Rockets.
