Silver confident season can be pulled off safely

Commissioner says health and safety protocols will allow play as coronavirus pandemic continues

The NBA found a way to get through last season amid a pandemic. Adam Silver sees no reason why the same cannot ring true again this season.

Silver, the the NBA’S commissioner, said Monday — one day before the new season begins — that he is confident the league’s health and safety protocols will allow teams to get through their planned 72-game regular season slates even as the coronavirus problem rages across the country and the world. He did, however, warn that he expects the virus to create some problems along the way.

“I think we are prepared for isolated cases; in fact, based on what we’ve seen in the preseason, based on watching other leagues operating outside a bubble, unfortunately, it seems somewhat inevitable,” Silver said. “We’re prepared for all contingencies.”

Games could be postponed or canceled along the way, and Silver said that if the league encounters issues that cannot be controlled by what’s covered in the health and safety protocols suspending the season — just as was the case back on March 11, when the 2019-20 season was halted for 41⁄ months —

2 will again be a possibility.

But the league, Silver vowed, will wait its

turn to get players and others inside the NBA vaccinated against the coronavirus.

“In no form or way will we jump the line,” Silver said.

Silver spoke on the eve of the sea

son-opening doubleheader — Golden State visiting Brooklyn and the Los Angeles Clippers playing against the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers. He said if the league didn’t believe in its plans, the season simply would not be starting.

“We do anticipate that there will be bumps in the road along the way,” Silver said.

Mary Schwalm / Associated Press As if dealing with last season amid the coronavirus pandemic wasn’t challenging enough, the Brooklyn Nets endured without their prized acquisition, as Kevin Durant was recovering from injury. Durant is back, and in time for Tuesday night’s opener against the Warriors.

Ezra Shaw / Getty Images Last season was a struggle for coach Steve Kerr, left, and his Golden State Warriors, with now healthy point guard Stephen Curry limited to only five games.