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Celtics’ Ainge seems frustrated Auerbach Center hasn’t reopened yet

The Celtics’ Danny Ainge seems frustrated that his team can’t get back to the ‘cleanest environment’ possible.

General Manager and President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge of the Boston Celtics watches a game between the Vanderbilt Commodores and the Butler Bulldogs during the 2016 Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational basketball tournament at the Orleans Arena on November 24, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

General Manager and President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge of the Boston Celtics watches a game between the Vanderbilt Commodores and the Butler Bulldogs during the 2016 Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational basketball tournament at the Orleans Arena on November 24, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Ethan Miller/Getty Images

By Ty Anderson, 985TheSportsHub.com

Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge wants his team allowed back into Brighton's Auerbach Center.

And with the majority of the NBA's 30 teams getting back to work in some capacity, it'd appear that his patience is wearing thin.

“I mean, we’re hoping it’s [opened] any day," Ainge told the Boston Herald's Steve Bulpett on Friday. "We’re just waiting to hear."

Earlier this week, Governor Charlie Baker revealed his multi-step plan to reopen the state from the COVID-19 pandemic that's closed just about everything for the last two months plus. But the Celtics' practice facility has remained closed, and after the Celtics were clearly hopeful that they'd be able to get back to work this week.

“It’s just not that complicated," Ainge continued. "What we’re trying to do is have one-on-zero workouts. Like, it’s probably the cleanest environment that anybody’s working at in the country, with the sanitization that has to go on and the coaches wearing masks and gloves. I mean, heck, it doesn’t seem that complicated.”

Ainge's frustrations are understandable, especially with the NBA looking at a reported June 1 return date for players. And with Orlando emerging as a favorite for an NBA restart later this summer. In other words, the clock has started ticking and the Celtics obviously want (need) to start the process of working two months of rust off.

The Celtics entered the pause as the third-best team in the Eastern Conference, at 43-21.

Ty Anderson is a writer and columnist for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Yell at him on Twitter: @_TyAnderson.
Ty Anderson is 98.5 The Sports Hub’s friendly neighborhood straight-edge kid. Ty has been covering the Bruins (and other Boston teams) since 2010, has been a member of the PHWA since 2013, and went left to right across your radio dial and joined The Sports Hub in 2018. Ty also writes about all New England sports from Patriots football to the Boston Celtics and Boston Red Sox.