The CDC recommends no gatherings of 50+ people in the US for the next eight weeks, likely meaning no LA Clippers games.
Subsequent to NBA commissioner Adam Silver announcing that the NBA season would be suspended for a minimum of 30 days on March 11th, the CDC has now recommended that no gatherings of 50 or more people take place for the next two months, in an effort to curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus. This means we probably won’t see any LA Clippers basketball for a couple months.
Per an official statement via CDC.gov,
"Large events and mass gatherings can contribute to the spread of COVID-19 in the United States via travelers who attend these events and introduce the virus to new communities. Examples of large events and mass gatherings include conferences, festivals, parades, concerts, sporting events, weddings, and other types of assemblies. These events can be planned not only by organizations and communities but also by individuals.Therefore, CDC, in accordance with its guidance for large events and mass gatherings, recommends that for the next 8 weeks, organizers (whether groups or individuals) cancel or postpone in-person events that consist of 50 people or more throughout the United States."
Given how closely the NBA has heeded recommendations by the CDC, this effectively doubles the duration of the league’s suspension. The earliest resumption of the season being pushed all the way back to May 15th–nearly two months later than the playoffs would normally begin (April 18th).
Individuals within NBA circles such as Mark Cuban have of course expressed a willingness to finish out the 2019-2020 season, even if it means playing into August, and the league appears to be giving that potential scenario a hard look. Already scouting arena dates that would extend throughout the summer, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
CDC recommendation of no events of 50-plus people for next two months comes as a number of NBA owners and executives increasingly believe a best case scenario is a mid-to-late June return to play -- with no fans. League's scouting for possible arena dates all the way thru August.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 15, 2020
A return to play without fans would certainly not be ideal, but it would at least provide the players a chance to get back into their rhythm before the playoffs. They’ll be needing it after such an extended period of downtime. Everyone would probably agree that this scenario is highly preferable to a full cancellation of the season, which is exactly what’s likely to happen to the NBA’s G-League.
Reporting with @malika_andrews: NBA teams operating G League franchises expect rest of the minor-league season will soon be cancelled, sources tell ESPN. Regular season runs thru end of March, playoffs into April. Players have been informed they'll be paid thru end of schedule.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 15, 2020
While the news of an even longer absence of… everything… is the last thing anyone wanted to hear at this point, it is absolutely necessary to ensure that the country’s medical infrastructure isn’t overloaded by an influx of new cases because people couldn’t go a couple of months without their favorite pastimes.
And, on the bright side, if you enjoy watching Paul George play video games, you’ll be getting a whole lot more of that.