Last week, ESPN’s Tim Bontemps broke the news that the NBA reached out to teams asking them to find local testing providers of PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests. That plan is now coming to fruition and the league is adjusting start times for games (including the Portland Trail Blazers) to account for the tests.
What exactly is a PCR test? Well, per Hoops Rumors:
"“The RT-PCR molecular test can pinpoint genetic viral material in a subject using a laboratory method called polymerase chain reaction. These tests are quite accurate and lab results are generally available on the day of the test.”"
The fact that the NBA has a new protocol is an encouraging sign as the previous plan clearly wasn’t working. The league has already canceled 20 games this season, an adjustment was necessary and the league not only made one but one that might actually help.
The NBA is implementing new same-day testing as a part of their COVID-19 protocol. As a result, the Portland Trail Blazers game on Sunday (originally scheduled for 6:00 PM) has been pushed back to 7:00 PM (PT).
Sunday’s game will be the Blazers’ first in nearly a week as both their Wednesday and Friday games against the Memphis Grizzlies were postponed due to contact tracing.
The Portland Trail Blazers haven’t played since the beating they took at the hands of the San Antonio Spurs. Only Damian Lillard, Carmelo Anthony, and oddly enough Rodney Hood bothered to show up for that game.
The Blazers will need more than three players if they’re going to beat the surprisingly hot New York Knicks. The hour difference between start times likely won’t make much of a difference to Portland though it will be a late-night for the Knicks who will be playing their third of four west coast games.
Regardless of what time the game starts what’s important is that the team shows up. Of course, we likely won’t know that until after tip-off.