Less than 24 hours after announcing Jabari Parker was entering Health and Safety protocols would miss tonight's game against the Golden State Warriors, the Celtics announced Al Horford and Grant Williams would be joining him.
Warriors guard Jordan Poole is also entering COVID protocols and is out tonight.
Horford's case is particularly interesting because he started the season in protocols with an actual case of COVID-19.
"You see the increases in numbers and we just talked up tightening up everything with our team," Ime Udoka said after Josh Richardson entered protocols. Richardson has since been cleared and is available tonight. "When you have a situation, that brings attention to your team and league-wide as well. We just have to be more strict on our protocols, wear our masks and be diligent about our process."
There are now 13 NBA teams with at least one player in protocols. A 14th, the Toronto Raptors, have a player isolating due to government rules regarding close contact with a positive case. Wednesday and Thursday saw 22 NBA players enter protocols.
"With the holidays and the gatherings there was a thought that there would be an uptick. I'm not sure that anyone predicted an uptick like this in our league," Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens said on the Toucher and Rich show yesterday. "I do think we were all very aware that there was going to be some challenges moving forward. And I think everybody that's in those positions is working hard to determine what the right next steps are."
ESPN reports the player's union and league have agreed to increased testing after Christmas, with everyone being tested except for players who got their booster shots within 14 days or player recently recovered from COVID-19.
The loss of Horford and Williams tonight removes two reliable bigs who stretch the floor for the Celtics. The Warriors don't throw much size on the floor as it is, so losing these two players takes away a little bit of an advantage for Boston. The Celtics will have to rely on small lineups and contributions from sources who don't typically play. Expect a heavy dose of small-ball with Romeo Langford and Aaron Nesmith at the wings and maybe even Jayson Tatum serving as the de facto 5-man in certain lineups.