Coronavirus (COVID-19) NBA Update: Jayson Tatum Is Still Not at 100%

Coronavirus (COVID-19) NBA Update: Jayson Tatum Is Still Not at 100%

An NBA Title contender suffered a major loss, a prominent owner voted for something and then immediately had buyer’s remorse, the Boston Celtics’ best player discussed how he’s still dealing with the coronavirus, and one Los Angeles team is rocking it. Just another week in the drama-filled sports league that is the National Basketball Association. Check out our latest update so you can continue betting against their NBA odds.

NBA COVID-19 Update – April 15th Edition

2020-2021 NBA Season

  • When: Dec. 22, 2020 – May 16, 2021

2020-21 NBA Championship Odds

  • L.A. Lakers +335
  • L.A. Clippers +500
  • Milwaukee Bucks +750
  • Golden State Warriors +9000
  • Boston Celtics +6000
  • Brooklyn Nets +250
  • Miami Heat +2800
  • Toronto Raptors +12500
  • Denver Nuggets +2200
  • Houston Rockets +400000
  • Philadelphia 76ers +1200
  • Dallas Mavericks +3300
  • Portland Trail Blazers +5000
  • New Orleans Pelicans +2000
  • Utah Jazz +700
  • Phoenix Suns +1300
  • Oklahoma City Thunder +100000
  • Atlanta Hawks +7000
  • Chicago Bulls +15000
  • Indiana Pacers +8000
  • Memphis Grizzlies +12500
  • Washington Wizards +50000
  • Minnesota Timberwolves +400000
  • Orlando Magic +150000
  • Sacramento Kings +75000
  • San Antonio Spurs +30000
  • Cleveland Cavaliers +150000
  • Detroit Pistons +400000
  • New York Knicks +20000
  • Charlotte Hornets +20000

Per Cuban, NBA makes a big mistake with playoff play-in tournament

So, uh, if you hate the idea, why did you vote for it, Mark? 

Mark Cuban, the Dallas Mavericks often non-apologetic owner, ate some crow this week. Cuban is a member of the NBA’s board of governors. 

The board unanimously approved a proposal to implement a play-in tournament this season. The tournament will involve teams in seventh to tenth place.

After the board approved the idea of a play-in tournament, Mavericks’ star player Luka Doncic made his feelings known.

Per Doncic, “I don’t understand the idea of a play-in. You play 72 games to get into the playoffs, then maybe you lose two in a row and you’re out of the playoffs. So I don’t see the point of that.”

So, now, Cuban thinks the idea of a play-in tournament is a big mistake. Did he not know the Mavericks are currently in seventh place and just three games ahead of the Memphis Grizzlies in eighth?

Cuban had a whole statement about why the play-in tournament is now a bad idea. Let’s be real, though. If the Mavericks were in fourth place and there wasn’t a chance of Dallas having to play in the tournament, he wouldn’t have changed his mind.

Not knowing where your team is in the standings is on you, Mark. Not the rest of the board. 

Celtics star Jayson Tatum says he’s still fighting COVID affects

The Boston Celtics best player contracted the coronavirus earlier in the season. He had to skip games. 

Tatum says he’s still feeling the affects of contracting COVID even though it happened more than three months ago. When asked if he was back to one-hundred percent, Tatum said he was “close” and that it’s a “process.”

He also said he “takes an inhaler” before each game and that he feels much better than he did a month ago. Tatum’s play has helped the Boston Celtics maintain a top eight position in the Eastern Conference.

The Celtics are currently in fifth-place. A game and a half separates fifth-place from eight-place, which means Boston has some work to do if they hope to stay out of the play-in tournament.   

Nuggets lose Murray indefinitely

The Denver Nuggets went from around a +1800 choice to win the NBA Championship to a +2200 choice. That’s what happens when you lose one of your most important players for the season.

Jamal Murray tore his left knee’s anterior cruciate ligament on April 12 in a game versus the Golden State Warriors. Murray averaged 21.2 points, 4 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. 

Without Murray, the Nuggets’ chances of winning the deep Western Conference significantly dropped. Their odds of +2200 to win the title make them an underlay. That’s how important Murray was to Denver’s chances of winning in the playoffs.  

Clippers rolling, become outright third choice to win the NBA Championship

The Los Angeles Clippers are the hottest team in the NBA. Heading into their April 16 game versus the Philadelphia 76ers, the Clippers have won seven straight.

LAC is 1.5 games behind the Phoenix Suns for the second-seed. They’re 3 games behind the Utah Jazz for the first-seed. 

Rajon Rondo is one of the reasons the Clippers are playing their best basketball of the season. Rondo is good enough to demand attention, which means opponents must account for Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and Rondo.

He’s also a pure point guard, meaning he’s always looking to pass first. Not only that, but Rondo, Patrick Patterson, Nicholas Batum, and Reggie Jackson are providing quality minutes off the bench. 

By quality, we mean that in some games the four players step onto the court for more minutes than the starters. Rondo allows Clippers’ coach Tyronn Lue more flexibility. That flexibility could be the reason LAC marches to the NBA Finals this season. 


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