NBA Finals, season on schedule thanks to replacement players


              FILE - Fans cheer Boston Celtics' Joe Johnson after he made a shot against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2021, in Boston. It could be argued the untold MVP's of this season were the more than 100 players signed to short-term hardship contracts to fill in when almost every team was decimated by the Omicron variant and other virus issues in December and January. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson, File)
            
              Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra gestures during a post-game news conference following Game 5 of the NBA basketball Eastern Conference finals playoff series against the Boston Celtics, Wednesday, May 25, 2022, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
            
              FILE - Top, Isaiah Thomas drives for the Los Angeles Lakers against Phoenix Suns' Chris Paul during the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2021, in Los Angeles. Bottom, Isaiah Thomas (2) plays for the Dallas Mavericks during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021. It could be argued the untold MVP's of this season were the more than 100 players signed to short-term hardship contracts to fill in when almost every team was decimated by the Omicron variant and other virus issues in December and January. (AP Photo/File)
            
              NBA Commissioner Adam Silver speaks at a news conference before Game 1 of basketball's NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Boston Celtics in San Francisco, Thursday, June 2, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
            
              FILE - Boston Celtics' Joe Johnson is cheered by fans as he leaves the court after their win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2021, in Boston. It could be argued the untold MVP's of this season were the more than 100 players signed to short-term hardship contracts to fill in when almost every team was decimated by the Omicron variant and other virus issues in December and January. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson, File)
NBA Finals, season on schedule thanks to replacement players