Celtics and Raptors Discussed a Boycott of Second Round Series
Remember how some NBA players weren’t too keen on the idea of traveling to the Orlando bubble because they felt like it might result in lost momentum for the Black Lives Matter movement?
That appears to have been reignited in a different form, with Celtics and Raptors players considering a boycott of their second round series following the shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin, which has resulted in more violent clashes, this time in the city of Kenosha.
Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse says the idea of a boycott “is on the table” after players from his team and the Boston Celtics met Tuesday night in advance of their NBA playoff series.
Nurse says other ideas have been discussed as well as the teams look for ways to protest systemic racism and police brutality.
Nurse adds he also has heard talk of a couple of his players leaving the NBA campus and going home, though he doesn’t know if that is a team-wide belief.
The best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal is slated to start Thursday night at Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Fla.
Celtics players are also commenting on this via a Wednesday media availability.
From Jayson Tatum:
Jayson Tatum says that it used to be that they could be out on the front lines to protest, but now they are trapped in the bubble.
"We’re in this bubble & we’re isolated from everyone else & that’s frustrating. I know some guys have talked about going home.”
— Jared Weiss (@JaredWeissNBA) August 26, 2020
Grant Williams:
Grant Williams says if they meet the threshold number of players not wanting to play that they wouldn't have enough active players to play the game, the conversation needs to be on figuring out what goal they want to accomplish with a boycott, and whether it's the whole series.
— Jared Weiss (@JaredWeissNBA) August 26, 2020
That’s the key portion there, in the last sentence of that second tweet. What do they want to accomplish? Does a refusal to play equate to meaningful change? Would it ultimately be counterproductive?
It’s hard to know unless they actually decide to do something. One thing seems clear; and that’s the idea that they either have to go all-in or don’t bother, because if you refuse to play game one on Thursday, but come back on Saturday to start the series, then what was the point in the first place? You’re either doing it or not doing it, can’t half-ass something like this.
Curious to see how it develops.
