Utah Jazz stars Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert conversating in-game (AP Photo/Duane Burleson, File)
ORLANDO,Florida- The Utah Jazz is finally playing again Thursday night at the NBA bubble in Orlando, Florida. And just like the Major League Baseball opening, there aren’t any fans in the stands due to the coronavirus.
The basketball team is playing the Pheonix Suns in a scrimmage Thursday night to see how this season will work; and KSL sports reporter Ben Anderson told Jeff Caplan’s Afternoon News the team is thrilled to be back on the court.
“They’ve been suspended since March 11, and this will be their first opportunity to get back on the floor together,” Anderson said.
The bubble is located at the Walt Disney World Complex in Orlando, Florida. “The experience at the NBA bubble is pretty amazing. It is like a traditional home game for the teams and you have some players who are there to support the teams playing,” Anderson said.
There will be one significant factor missing.
“The players definitely feed off of the energy from their fans and that is going to be lacking. They are toying with the idea of pumping in some crowd noise,” Anderson said.
Anderson says that these scrimmages held at the NBA bubble are serving the purpose of finding out what needs to be done for the players before the seasons starts. Whether it be more temperature checks, avoiding reporters, or playing crowd music, the players need to feel comfortable.
On July 30, the Utah Jazz will take on the New Orleans Pelicans at the NBA bubble.