Grind City Media’s Lang Whitaker and Kelcey Wright Johnson weigh in on the most pertinent news from around the NBA. What’s lit? What’s lame? Find out each week right here.
From: Lang Whitaker
Sent: Tuesday, August 11, 2020 at 1:13 PM
To: Kelcey Wright Johnson
Subject: IMHO
Kelcey:
Tag team, back again. And this week I wanted to start by bringing up something I’ve noticed within The Bubble, which is this: Is there such a thing as a Bubble Superstar?
There have been several players who showed up to Orlando and, to varying degrees, showed out in ways they’ve never performed before in the NBA. From T.J. Warren to Devin Booker, from Michael Porter Jr. to Gary Trent Jr., from Grayson Allen to Thomas Bryant, we’ve seen more than a few players playing career-best basketball.
So my question is, Why? Is it because these guys are, for whatever reason, better suited to playing in The Bubble atmosphere (no fans, smaller venues, etc.)? Or do we think these guys just had a few hot weeks once they got in The Bubble?
From: Kelcey Wright Johnson
Sent: Wednesday, August 12, 2020 at 12:59 PM
To: Lang Whitaker
Subject: Re: IMHO
What’s up, partner?
Honestly, I think if people knew why these player or teams were red hot in the bubble, everyone would be trying to replicate it. It’s a crazy phenomenon. It may just be a wild mixture of zero distractions from the outside world and an intense need to prove certain people wrong in the push for the playoffs.
Take Damian Lillard for example; after Pat Bev and Paul George (and Skip Bayless) made him angry, he went out and had 112 points in two games—willing Portland into two straight (important) wins.
On the less distraction side of things; I think Devin Booker (not to go into his personal business too much) is benefiting from being locked away from the world as he leads the Suns to an unreal seeding tournament in the bubble. Whatever the case may be for certain guys, I think some players are enjoying playing in the bubble and obviously thriving.
The one thing I wouldn’t like if I were a player (but totally love as a spectator) is how quiet the arena is, which means you can hear all the trash talk between the teams that would normally be drowned out by fan noise. Is there anyone you’ve watched so far that you were surprised talked so much trash on the court?
From: Lang Whitaker
Sent: Wednesday, August 12, 2020 at 7:24 PM
To: Kelcey Wright Johnson
Subject: Re: IMHO
I haven’t been surprised by the amount of trash talk—you and I both played basketball for a long time and we know that talking trash is an integral part of the game. I still vividly remember in my first high school game when one of my teammates was yelling from the bench at a guy that he was going to take his shoes after the game. I was urgently trying to hush him up, thinking a fight was right around the corner. But then the game ended, and they hugged and everyone went on their merry way. And from then on, I talked a ton of trash. Most of it from the safety of the bench, sure, but I have to say it was one of the highlights of my game.
I suppose what’s most surprising in Orlando is how surprised the referees seem to be by all of the trash talking. They’ve been dropping Ts left and right during these games, and I’m not sure if it’s because they’re being careful about the Bubble product or if it’s because they just don’t hear it usually in loud arenas, but their propensity for doling out Ts in the Bubble has been a bit disappointing. Let the kids play and talk their talk!
Kelcey, the NBA this week announced that they were going to create Bubble Awards for these seeding games (a golden bubble?), recognizing the best performances in Orlando. For my first team All-Bubble, I’d have to go with Devin Booker and Dame Lillard, of course, and then Luka Doncic and T.J. Warren, and finally Giannis Antetokounmpo, who gets it both for his play and his headbutting, which is keeping him out of the game against the Grizzlies tomorrow night, the first good break the Grizz have gotten since OKC sat Steven Adams.
Who is on Kelcey’s first-team All-Bubble?
From: Kelcey Wright Johnson
Sent: Wednesday, August 12, 2020 at 11:13 PM
To: Lang Whitaker
Subject: Re: IMHO
Lang,
That’s a tough one!
For my All-Bubble team, I’d go with Devin Booker, Damian Lillard, Luka Doncic, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Joel Embiid (when he was playing more than 10 minutes a game).
The first four don’t need explaining. But I’m not as sold on T.J. Warren as everyone else – I think he’s scored well in a couple games but he’s really only turning heads because of the awful trade he was just involved in from the Suns (who clearly weren’t hurting too badly from it in the bubble). Embiid had been putting up Shaq-like efficiency numbers in the start of the bubble before hurting his right knee, even if the Sixers haven’t done overly well in the bubble. I think he is an underrated center in the league and it’s a shame he is out indefinitely moving forward for Philly. But he had 29 and 11 against the Wizards, 27 and 9 against the Spurs — and 41 and 21 against the Pacers (sheesh!).
Let’s add three more bubble-award predictions while we’re at it, Lang! Who would be your pick for Rookie of the Bubble, Most Improved in Bubble and MVP of Bubble? (But if your MVP isn’t Dame, I’m not sure we can continue to email each other)
From: Lang Whitaker
Sent: Thursday, August 13, 2020 at 8:58 AM
To: Kelcey Wright Johnson
Subject: Re: IMHO
I mean, the MVP just has to be Dame, who, yeah, missed two free throws, but has made pretty much every other shot he’s attempted in the Bubble. He makes dropping 50 seem easy, and he’s taken a Portland team that looked out of it in the regular season and played them right into the postseason. He’s been unstoppable.
For best Rookie, it’s gotta be our guy Ja Morant. Yes, he’s had to face some new challenges in the bubble as the absence of Jaren Jackson Jr. has allowed teams to key almost solely on him. But Ja has risen to the challenge, averaging 20 points and 9.9 assists per game. And he turned 21 along the way!
As for most improved, I guess T.J. Warren gets the vote? He was great in college and has always been able to score in the NBA, but he’s averaging 31 ppg for the Pacers in Orlando, which is remarkable since before now he’d never averaged over 20 ppg previously. Warren has bounced around the NBA, but I think he may have finally found a home.