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NBA Increasing Security In Orlando Following Social Media Back And Fourths Between Players

NBA Increasing Security In Orlando Following Social Media Back And Fourths Between Players

With the playoffs just days away, the NBA want to avoid any on-court tensions potentially spilling over into the Disney World corridors.

Max Sherry

Max Sherry

The NBA is preparing to tighten up its security measures within the 'bubble' following a number of social media back and fourths between the players.

With the playoffs just around the corner, it's understood NBA officials are keen to keep opposition stars as far away from each other as possible when they're off the court.

But with everyone living tightly among one another in the safeguarded zone of Walt Disney World, that could prove to be a tricky task.

Damian Lillard and Paul George.
PA

The latest reports suggest the NBA is planning on increasing its security measures within the Orlando bubble following the growing number of players talking trash to each other on social media ahead of the playoffs on August 14.

The growing feud between the Portland Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Clippers spilled out onto Instagram following their hotly-contested clash over the weekend.

The Blazers ended up losing 122-117 to the Clippers after star man Damian Lillard missed two free throw attempts with 18 seconds remaining in the game.

Injured Clippers guard and notorious trash talker Patrick Beverley was seen waving his arms from the bench during Lillard's uncharacteristic misses before laughing with teammates at full-time.

LA star Paul George then waved Lillard and Portland goodbye when the final siren sounded - a move that didn't sit well with the five-time NBA All Star.


"For one, I know what happened. I expect myself to make those free throws, and I didn't when my team needed it, which is a failure for me. That I can accept," Lillard said.

"But asking me about Patrick Beverley, who I've sent home before at the end of the game, Paul George got sent home by me last year in the playoff. So they know the reason they are reacting like that is because of what they expect from me, which his a sign of respect.

"And it just shows what I've done at a high clip more times than not. So I'm not offended by it.

"If anything it should tell you how much it hurt them to go through what I put them through in those situations previously."

But the back and fourth wasn't done there with Beverley taking to Instagram to respond.

The Clippers guard commented on the original video of Lillard's comments, saying: "Cancun on 3".

His teammate George then chimed in, commenting: "And you getting sent home this year. Respect".

But Lillard wasn't going to let the beef end there.

Taking aim at George - a player who had joined championship favourites the Clippers after falling short of clinching a ring with the Oklahoma City Thunder - Lillard let his feelings about his rivals be known.

"Keep switching teams... running from the grind. You boys is chumps," Lillard replied.

It's not the first time since their arrival in the bubble that players have gone at each other via social media following heated exchanges on the court.

And in an attempt to stop tensions from escalating further and potentially boiling over, it appears the NBA are now increasing the number of security guards in the Orlando hotels and training centres.

The last thing the NBA wants is an off-court altercation in the corridors of Walt Disney World.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Basketball, covid19, NBA, Coronavirus, Twitter, Australia,