The Adam Silver bubble in Orlando has not burst.
Considering baseball’s COVID-19 plagued journey, that’s the most important element as the NBA’s 22-team reboot begins with an eight-game regular season Thursday at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports complex. . No player tested positive for the second week in a row.
As a head coach sent a text message to The Post: “The bubble is the safest place on Earth.”
If the coronavirus allows, the playoffs will begin on August 17 after six clubs go home. No advantage at home. Without fans. Do not leave Disney World. Lots of daily tests, TV coverage and Mickey Mouse references.
If an asterisk is placed on the October NBA champion, it is an asterisk of honor. Mickey Mouse denied through his spokesman that he handed over the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy.
“They are playing basketball, so it is legitimate,” Charles Oakley told The Post. “I hope they can continue to keep men out of the crown wave. It’s a long time in the bubble. “
When we stay
On March 11, the Lakers (49-14) and Bucks (53-12) headed for a collision in the NBA Finals: A showdown between TV executives and Silver is salivating. The top two MVP candidates, LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo, would make a compelling fall classic. However, a final of the Western Conference of the Lakers-Clippers has so much intrigue in The Battle for La-La Land organized in Fantasyland.
In truth, the second-place Clippers led by Kawhi Leonard could be in a monstrous first-round battle in a 2v7 series against upstart Mavericks. Luka Doncic has become a superstar with ESPN’s Mark Jackson calling him “a combination of Larry Bird and Magic Johnson”. Along with Kristaps Porzingis and a season of recovery from another former Knick in Tim Hardaway Jr., don’t sleep at the Mavericks in the new world with no home advantage.
Experts warn that the Miami Heat (41-24) could become Milwaukee’s toughest challenge. They are cunning, led by Jimmy Butler, solid defense, depth, selfless play and an underrated superstar coach in Erik Spoelstra.
The Pelicans jumped into the playoffs with the return of a knee injury from Zion Williamson, who played 19 games and led New Orleans within 3 1/2 games of Memphis, eighth seed at 28-36. Williams averaged 23.4 points.
Finally there are the Rockets by James Harden and Russell Westbrook on what might be Mike D’Antoni’s appropriate swan song as a coach. The small ball and speed ball pioneer flipped completely centerless after trading Clint Capela and using PJ Tucker at pivot and Robert Covington at forward.
What has happened since
The Lakers have not had two members of their rotation since their last outing, a March 10 loss to the Nets. Starting point guard Avery Bradley was excluded. Rajon Rondo broke his thumb after ignoring the accommodation at the bubble hotel. And so James has added two of his former Cavaliers teammates to former Knick JR Smith and Dion Waiters. Smith’s contributions in Game 7 in 2016 were key to LeBron ending the Cleveland title curse.
The Pacers were attacked by the loss of bubbles from Domantis Sabonis (plantar fasciitis) and Victor Oladipo’s condition in the air after initially saying he is afraid of risking further injury to his surgically repaired knee. But some experts say not to rule out a team of Pacers trained by Nate MacMillan to cause early unrest.
The Nets are the Marlins of the NBA. Shortly after the close, the Nets had four players test positive for COVID-19, only Kevin Durant was identified. Since then, three more positive tests in the week before the Nets traveled to Orlando (Spencer Dinwiddie, DeAndre Jordan, Taurean Prince). Desperate, they signed Michael Beasley, who then tested positive upon arrival. The Nets could have easily fallen out of the playoffs (and regained a lottery-protected first-round pick) if Washington had had its full strength. Bradley Beal rescued, ahem, a shoulder injury, and Davis Bertans also happened to protect his free agency. .
Donovan Mitchell reportedly disagreed with Rudy Gobert after they both tested positive for COVID-19. They supposedly fixed things, but they also can’t heal the injury to shooter Bojan Bogdanovic’s wrist that causes the Jazz to be lacking.
What to look for starting Thursday night
The Zion Williamson pelicans face the Jazz, one of two games Thursday to start the restart. Of course they are. There are players from six teams who don’t play in the playoffs in Orlando, but the only one that matters to Silver is Williamson.
Will he play the opening game after returning to practice on Tuesday? Williamson left the bubble on July 16 to deal with a family emergency, but returned eight days later. He wants to ignite a Pelicans playoff push to overtake Ja Morant, Memphis favorite and Rookie of the Year. Bringing more sculpted Williamson up to date after the suspension of COVID-19 and the exit of the bubble will be a fascinating story of “planting games.” Zion vs. Ja for last place in the Western playoffs to play against the top-ranked Lakers.
There is not much expectation for the Nets / Magic / Wizards group for the last place in the East. The Nets are so decimated that they had to sign Lance Thomas. The Wizards, who follow No. 8 Orlando for 5 ½ games, need to be within four games of the eighth seed to force a play-in series. It would be the best of three with the eighth-place team needing to win just one.
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