NBA Bubblegum Observations Part II
The awkward regular season is finally so let’s take a look at the future, awkward postseason
Greetings!
We are back with part two of observations of the NBA season in the Orlando Bubble. The regular season has finally come to an end and we are now getting ready for the postseason to start. Before Monday’s opening ceremonies, let’s take a quick recap on all the cool things that happened in the second week of the Bubble.
Let’s get to it:
It’s Dame Time Now and Forever Ever, (For ever, ever?) Forever Ever
Leave it to Paul George and Patrick Beverly to piss off Damian Lillard. Ever since the Portland Trailblazers disappointing loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, Lillard has been on a warpath to have the NBA “put some respect on his f****** name.” He’s averaged 51.3 points and 9.0 assists while shooting 56% from the floor, 49% from the 3-point area, and 95% from the free throw line.
No seriously.
Lillard was always a respected player in the NBA but he never really got the kind of attention his contemporaries did. Players like Steph Curry and James Harden would earn more appeal from sports talk radio shows and networks. Lillard is the equivalent of Allen Iverson back in the day when he was matched up with Kobe Bryant in terms of popularity in the sportsworld. Bryant was the star player everybody loved but Iverson was the “cool” player who fans and other athletes wanted to be like. That is basically the case with Lillard. Yes, he’s respected but there was always an “edge” about him that didn’t really make him the type of player networks like ESPN or FOX Sports wanted to talk about daily. Plus, he plays for the Trailblazers who are not a large market team and do not have the appeal like say the Lakers. However, players and fans always loved his game because Dame Dolla was just that: cool.
The Trailblazers currently hold the spot for the 8th seed in the playoff race and will face the Memphis Grizzlies today at 2:30PM in a “play in tournament.” If the Blazers win today, they will face the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday for the postseason matchup. If they lose, they will have to play the Grizzlies again tomorrow for one last chance to return to the postseason. Lillard has been determined to make sure his team makes it back to the playoffs after a mostly disappointing season. While it hasn’t been easy considering he and his teammates have battling injuries all year long, Lillard has certified himself as arguably one of the best (if not, THE best) point guards in the NBA.
Phoenix: Land of The Rising Suns
It stinks that the Phoenix Suns have been eliminated from the playoff race. They were my favorite team to watch next to the Trailblazers, Brooklyn Nets, New Orleans Pelicans, and Indiana Pacers. The reason why is because these guys were just fun to watch. It is great to be wrong in regards to the Suns’ development and credit to Monty Williams and the coaching staff for properly coaching the team to play their best. I wasn’t sure if the team had a direction considering the troubling years that they had with the organization but a retooled Phoenix Suns team in the Orlando Bubble showed that a young core is developing and the team is in good hands.
Devin Booker continues to grow as one of the best young shooting guards in the league. Booker was averaging 30.7 points, 6.0 assists, 4.9 rebounds while shooting 62.7% from the field since the NBA resumed in July. The Suns are clearly better when Booker is on the floor. They score at least nine more points per 100 possessions with him on the floor compared to when he’s on the bench. D-Book is clearly showcasing that he can be a clutch player when it is “go-time” and definitely can breathe new life into a team that hasn’t seen success since Mike D’Antoni left the organization in 2008.
It is not only Booker who continues to show growth. After failing the anti-drug test, Deandre Ayton has been trying to make amends for his failings by stepping up as an exceptional big man for the team. He’s been solid as a rebounder and a pick and roll scorer. His defense still stinks but he has been active on the floor. Mikal Bridges has also improved into an excellent 3&D wing player that the Suns were looking for to pair with Booker. Cameron Johnson has manifested into a solid microwave scorer for the Suns. Ricky Rubio also continues to hold up his responsibility as a veteran player and guard who is mentoring the young Suns players.
Even though they didn’t make it to the playoffs, the future looks bright in Phoenix.
Where is Ja?! Torching opposing defenses it seems
Ja Morant is clearly the Rookie of the Year but nobody seems to want to just the give the young man his award. It’s not fair that there would even be questions as to whether or not he deserves it (he clearly does). While Zion Williamson is the “generational talent,” he has missed half of the season and only recently came back before the NBA’s shutdown. Kendrick Nunn, Tyler Herro, and Duncan Robinson have all played well but there are not dependent standouts like Morant or Williamson. Morant is clearly the best player on this young Grizzlies team. He’s averaging 17.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 7.3 assists. He’s taking the whole “point god” thing seriously as the kid has impeccable court vision. With Jaren Jackson Jr. down and out of the season, Morant has stepped up to take on the leadership role and keep the Grizzlies from falling out of playoff contention. With their matchup against the Blazers today, you can expect Morant to go toe-to-toe against the other “point god” in Damian Lillard to ensure that his team face against the Lakers next Tuesday.
That’s it for now!
Stay tuned for the followup in the coming days when I preview the NBA Playoffs. Until then enjoy your weekend!
*additional content from Bleacher Report, ESPN, Cleaning the Glass, House of Highlights, CBS Sports, Basketball Reference
