NBA IS SETTING A GREAT EXAMPLE

How Russell Westbrook's positive test proves league protocols are working

Russell Westbrook
Photo by Getty Images.

Russell Westbrook made news Monday when he announced that he tested positive for COVID-19. However, the significance of Westbrook testing positive BEFORE he departed with the rest of his Rockets teammates to Orlando proves that the NBA testing protocols are working.

You never want to see anyone test positive for coronavirus but it is important to try and put things in perspective and not be alarmed over every positive test. The league announced the results of 322 tests that they have conducted on players since teams started to arrive inside the Disney World bubble. Out of the 322 players tested just two were positive and those players are isolating away from everybody else. I'm not a math guy but 0.6% of players testing positive is an unbelievably strong number for the league. Let's hope the media focuses on the 0.6% instead of the two players on-site that have COVID-19.

Testing positive for COVID-19 is not an automatic death sentence and some in the media need to stop treating it as if it is. Positive tests are happening around our country and unfortunately, they will continue to happen. You can't eradicate this virus overnight but you can try and be careful and take proper measures to help contain it as the NBA has done. Any athlete that gets the virus is surrounded by the best doctors the league can provide.

I initially questioned the NBA restarting in late July when it was first announced at the beginning of June as I had hoped to see the league return sooner, but I now understand why the NBA did what it did. The late July start allowed teams to test their players regularly once training facilities reopened in anticipation of traveling down to Orlando for the restart. This helped prevent anyone that has the virus from spreading it to teammates and others before traveling to the bubble. Now having an additional two weeks to prepare for the 8 game regular season, means that a player like Westbrook that has COVID-19 can still fully recover, test negative, travel down to Orlando, and not miss a significant amount of games as long as he proves that he is healthy.

The NBA has made it possible to resume its season by having a great testing protocol in place to prevent a virus outbreak and by spending the money to make the bubble happen. Props to Commissioner Adam Silver and the NBAPA for taking this seriously and for getting it right.


You can listen to The Jake Asman Show weekdays from 8 AM -10 AM Central on SB Nation Radio.

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Kyle Tucker returns to Houston this weekend. Composite Getty Image.

Two first-place teams, identical records, and a weekend set with serious measuring-stick energy.

The Houston Astros and Chicago Cubs open a three-game series Friday night at Daikin Park, in what could quietly be one of the more telling matchups of the summer. Both teams enter at 48-33, each atop their respective divisions — but trending in slightly different directions.

The Astros have been red-hot, going 7-3 over their last 10 while outscoring opponents by 11 runs. They've done it behind one of the best pitching staffs in baseball, with a collective 3.41 ERA that ranks second in the American League. Houston has also been dominant at home, where they’ve compiled a 30-13 record — a stat that looms large heading into this weekend.

On the other side, the Cubs have held their ground in the NL Central but have shown some recent shakiness. They're 5-5 over their last 10 games and have given up 5.66 runs per game over that stretch. Still, the offense remains dangerous, ranking fifth in on-base percentage across the majors. Kyle Tucker leads the way with a .287 average, 16 homers, and 49 RBIs, while Michael Busch has been hot of late, collecting 12 hits in his last 37 at-bats.

Friday’s pitching matchup features Houston’s Brandon Walter (0-1, 3.80 ERA, 1.10 WHIP) and Chicago’s Cade Horton (3-1, 3.73 ERA, 1.29 WHIP), a promising young arm making one of his biggest starts of the season on the road. Horton will have his hands full with Isaac Paredes, who’s slugged 16 homers on the year, and Mauricio Dubón, who’s found a groove with four home runs over his last 10 games.

It’s the first meeting of the season between these two clubs — and if the trends continue, it may not be the last time they cross paths when it really counts.

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Astros -112, Cubs -107; over/under is 8 1/2 runs

Here's a preview of Joe Espada's Game 1 lineup.

The first thing that stands out is rookie Cam Smith is hitting cleanup, followed by Jake Meyers. Victor Caratini is the DH and is hitting sixth. Christian Walker is all the way down at seventh, followed by Yainer Diaz, and Taylor Trammell who is playing left field.

How the mighty have fallen.

Pretty wild to see Walker and Diaz hitting this low in the lineup. However, it's justified, based on performance. Walker is hitting a pathetic .214 and Diaz is slightly better sporting a .238 batting average.

Screenshot via: MLB.com



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