China has finally figured out a way to stop those pesky questions of woke NBA players and coaches on what they think of the situation in Hong Kong: Ban the media:

Per @ByTimReynolds, there will be no media availability before or after the preseason game in China. I’ve never heard of that. https://t.co/gv3pJwBt1c pic.twitter.com/EmPWlmS2J6 — Sopan Deb (@SopanDeb) October 10, 2019

So Adam Silver won’t meet with the media on his own?

The Chinese government previously canceled two NBA Cares events here in Shanghai and the league opted not to make players or coaches available for interviews yesterday as originally scheduled. A press conference with Adam Silver scheduled for pre-game will also not be held. — Bill Oram (@billoram) October 10, 2019

A typical NBA game features pre-game press conference with both coaches and half an hour of open locker room time. In China, the league was to hold postgame press conferences with players and coaches. — Bill Oram (@billoram) October 10, 2019

What a sad, lonely podium:

Needless to say, the NBA will no longer be needing this pic.twitter.com/JdERWtl40M — Bill Oram (@billoram) October 10, 2019

As the NYT’s NBA reporter Sopan Deb notes, why even have the game ?

What is even the point or doing the game at this point? No community events. Not being broadcast in China. No press at all. — Sopan Deb (@SopanDeb) October 10, 2019

According to reports, this is not backing down to China:

Lakers-Nets game is on. Players are in arena. Told that Adam Silver felt it was important to stand his ground, not leave China, not cancel the game, not back down, but not be antagonizing or aggressive to China. Genuinely surprised Chinese are letting them play. — Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) October 10, 2019

Tip off is at 7:30 a.m. ET:

***