Jul 17, 2021
Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said he won t have a full staff for Game 5 of the NBA Finals as multiple staff members and Thanasis Antetokounmpo are in COVID-19 health and safety protocols.
ESPN s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Bucks assistant Josh Oppenheimer will not be on the bench for the matchup. This marks the third consecutive game Oppenheimer has been absent from the Bucks bench.
But, Milwaukee was not the only one impacted by the league s health and safety protocols. NBA official Sean Wright is unable to officiate Game 5, and James Williams stepped in to be the umpire, according to NBA Communications.
Thanasis Antetokounmpo out of Game 5, enters NBA s COVID-19 health, safety protocol
ESPN s Jay Williams announced his COVID-19 diagnosis Friday Share Updated: 7:31 PM CDT Jul 17, 2021
Thanasis Antetokounmpo out of Game 5, enters NBA s COVID-19 health, safety protocol
ESPN s Jay Williams announced his COVID-19 diagnosis Friday Share Updated: 7:31 PM CDT Jul 17, 2021
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Show Transcript OVERLOOKING THE DEER DISTRICT. WE ALSO HAVE A CREW ON THE GROUND. JOYCE: LET’S BRING IN CAROLINE REINWALD WHO IS LIVE DOWN ONHE T PLAZA, ASKING FANS ABOUT THE WSNE THAT THANASIS ANTETOKOUNMPO IS OUT BECAUSE OF COVID HEALTH PROTOCOLS. CAROLINE: YES. EARLIER, WHEN DISCUSSING THANASIS ANTETOKNMPOOU, HIS PROXIMITTOY GIANNIS, IF HE HAS BEEN AROUND GIANNIS, IF THAT WILL IMPACT GIANSNI’ HYPE AND MIND GAME. IT IS CONCERNING FOR THE FANS HERE TONIGHT. LISTEN TO WHAT THEY HAD TO TELL ME BEFORE 6:00. I THINK WITH THANASIS BEING OUT, HE S SO CLOSE TO GINIANS.
PHOENIX (AP) â In the most important games of this NBA season, COVID-19 continues to make its impact felt.
The Milwaukee Bucks will be without reserve forward Thanasis Antetokounmpo, who was placed in the NBA s health and safety protocol before Game 5 of the finals on Saturday. The NBA also announced that Sean Wright wouldn t be able to officiate due to the leagueâs health and safety protocols.
Wright was replaced by James Williams.
The loss of Antetokounmpo doesnât have an impact on the Bucks rotation; he has played 45 minutes in 13 playoff games. The main concern is whether Thanasisâ absence will impact his brother, two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. The siblings are very close.
Originally posted on Hoops Rumors | By Arthur Hill | Last updated 7/17/21
An NBA season that began under the threat of COVID-19 appears to be ending the same way. In addition to Thanasis Antetokounmpo, who has been ruled out of Saturday night’s Game 5 after being placed in health and safety protocols, the Bucks will be without assistant coach Josh Oppenheimer, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. This will be the third straight game that Oppenheimer has been forced to miss, Wojnarowski adds (Twitter link), but there’s hope he might be back for Game 6 (Twitter link).
The virus has also affected Saturday night s officiating crew, as the league announced (via Twitter) that referee Sean Wright has been placed in health and safety protocols. James Williams will take his place.
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