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  6. article_body => "<p>There may not be any fans in attendance, but Paul Pierce found a way to watch the Celtics anyway.<\/p>\n<p>Pierce, a 19-year NBA veteran who played for four teams including the Wizards, is no longer playing but still takes the time to watch the team he spent most of his career with.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Paul Pierce is in the virtual crowd at the Celtics-Blazers game \ud83d\udc80 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/zJ2VD7bNfT\">pic.twitter.com\/zJ2VD7bNfT<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BleacherReport\/status\/1290011846695510016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 2, 2020<\/a><\/blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n \n<p>Pierce was one of many Celtics fans who filled a 17-foot video board around the court in Orlando. He\u2019s also not the only former player to join. Chris Bosh joined the virtual crowd watching LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers take on the Los Angeles Clippers on the opening night of the NBA restart.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Chris Bosh pulled up to the Lakers-Clippers game as a virtual fan \ud83d\ude02 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/rgjKKubLuW\">pic.twitter.com\/rgjKKubLuW<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BleacherReport\/status\/1289024272262811649?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 31, 2020<\/a><\/blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n \n<p>It\u2019s not the same atmosphere when arenas aren\u2019t filled to the brim with screaming fans, but the NBA is trying to find a way to bring the game closer to the fans. Count Pierce and Bosh among those who are willing to give it a chance.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/art19.com\/shows\/wizards-tipoff\" target=\"_blank\">CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE WIZARDS TALK PODCAST<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/art19.com\/shows\/wizards-tipoff\/episodes\/9830fbfe-7a06-4dd6-91af-bba355f36e8d\/embed?theme=light-custom\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 200px; border: 0 none;\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe> \n<p><em><strong>Stay connected to the&nbsp;Wizards with the MyTeams app.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/smart.link\/5bb65a2b6cedb?site_id=Dig_RSN_Wash&amp;creative_id=nbcswash1200&amp;cp_4=www.nbcsports.com&amp;cp_1=washington&amp;cp_2=myteams-nbc-sports&amp;cp_3=nbcswash1200\" target=\"_blank\">Click here<\/a>&nbsp;to download for comprehensive coverage of your teams.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>MORE WIZARDS NEWS:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Kneeling:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/wizards\/ish-smith-says-nba-coming-together-kneel-anthem-was-powerful\">A powerful moment for Ish Smith<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Breonna Taylor: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/wizards\/bradley-beal-laments-fact-breonna-taylors-murderers-are-still-not-arrested\" target=\"_blank\">Beal's message<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Temple: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/wizards\/bradley-beal-calls-nets-wing-garrett-temple-greatest-teammate-ive-ever-had\" target=\"_blank\">Best teammate Bea'ls had<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n"
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Wizards

Wizards

There may not be any fans in attendance, but Paul Pierce found a way to watch the Celtics anyway.

Pierce, a 19-year NBA veteran who played for four teams including the Wizards, is no longer playing but still takes the time to watch the team he spent most of his career with.

Pierce was one of many Celtics fans who filled a 17-foot video board around the court in Orlando. He’s also not the only former player to join. Chris Bosh joined the virtual crowd watching LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers take on the Los Angeles Clippers on the opening night of the NBA restart.

It’s not the same atmosphere when arenas aren’t filled to the brim with screaming fans, but the NBA is trying to find a way to bring the game closer to the fans. Count Pierce and Bosh among those who are willing to give it a chance.

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