The NBA announced it is still uncertain when it will return to play as society is slowly planning its return to action. The Orlando Magic are waiting.
Saturday and Sunday were supposed to be two of the best days on the NBA calendar.
For two straight days from noon until well past midnight Eastern time, the eight first-round playoff series would get their start. It is wall-to-wall, all-day basketball as it ramps up to reach its highest levels.
The Orlando Magic likely would have had a first-round game in Milwaukee, Toronto or Boston this weekend to look forward to. Even with long odds to advance in the series — or win that first game — the team proved last year that anything can happen once the lights get big. For good or for bad.
To be sure, the Magic have bided their time and patiently waited for this time of year. Even if they could not do much more than eke into the bottom of the playoffs, their poise this year would serve them well for a second trip to the playoffs.
The growth the Magic wanted to see from several plays would, of course, play out throughout the season, but it would come into sharpest focus in the playoffs.
The NBA still wants to get to the playoffs eventually. The league has not given up hope on finishing the season.
But the board of governors met Friday and the outlook is still cautious. Commissioner Adam Silver said the information the league has received does not put them in a position right now to say when they will come back.
For now, it seems the league is maintaining its position that it cannot evaluate things again until the end of the month — and then will implement a ramp-up plan that will likely take another month.
We are still quite some time away from Magic basketball.
The league and players association announced they have agreed to withhold salaries beginning May 15 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
There is still a lot that needs to happen before games can start back up again. The league is doing its part in some form or fashion.
In association with Fanatics, the league is producing team-branded surgical masks. All proceeds will go to local charities with sale of the Magic’s masks going to Second Harvest Food Bank in Central Florida.
https://twitter.com/OrlandoMagic/status/1251236508943757312
If we all have to wear masks — masks are recommended but not required in Central Florida except for Osceola County — they might as well represent your favorite team.
The Magic continue to remain active in the community too.
Coach Steve Clifford made a donation to Heart of Florida United Way to their fund to support Central Florida residents whose financial stability is being impacted by the coronavirus.
Meanwhile, Magic forward Jonathan Isaac has continued to serve and deliver food to children and families around Central Florida through his initiative with J.U.M.P. Ministries. Darren Stoltzfus of WESH News Channel 2 checked in on his efforts.
Wesley Iwundu joined those efforts to support Jonathan Isaac. He spoke with Luke Hetrick of Spectrum News 13 about his life during the pandemic.
He like everyone else is trying to pass the time.
Wesley Iwundu said players are as much in the dark about a possible return as everyone else. And eager to return.
So many do not have access to a hoop that it is hard for them to do a whole lot to stay in game shape. Players are trying to do their best until they can get back to work.
What does this look like?
Mohamed Bamba recently took Magic personalities Dante Marchitelli and George Galante on a tour of his home gym.
That is life right now for a lot of us. Everyone is doing what they can to pre-occupy themselves within their own homes.
The league, like the nation, is eagerly waiting for the world to get back on its feet. But nobody is doing anything until they have the OK and it is safe to end social distancing — to some extent — and return to sports.
Until then, we all wait.