Welcome to the Bubble: the Masked Truth and a Possible Dream – Houston Rockets Restart Preview
Back… for Now. Elite 8. Slim Jimmy, Brodie, and the Wings.
“They’re gonna need a bigger boat” Roy Scheider says in 1975’s Jaws. Well, it’s late July, a time when the NBA’s Banana Boat would usually be in full-session. Not this year. Hopefully, the NBA itself doesn’t need a bigger boat, as the bubble experiment begins Thursday night in Orlando. It was a completely different world when Jaws rocked cinemas. And it’s a whole new world today, as the Houston Rockets prepare to get back to work. After a four and-a-half month hiatus, longer than the NBA’s usual offseason, the league is back. But this time, there will be no fans, and all the action is taking place in a bubble the NBA has set up in Orlando. To say a lot has happened since we last saw the Beard and Brodie in action would be an understatement. The world has changed, forever. With beckoning for social justice at an all-time high after the murder of George Floyd, it finally seems like change is coming, in a good way. Change has also been here, in a bad way. When the coronavirus first hit the news outlets, it seemed like something distant and unlikely to really shock America, but move forward more than half a year. This pandemic has changed the world, and put a pause on the sports world for a few months. Gone are the days of handshakes, hugs, and naked-face talk. Say hello to masks, social distancing, and staying away from people. How long is this era here to stay? No one knows for sure. It’s an eerie time, but the NBA is back to try and put some joy on people’s masked faces. Hopefully the league can pull this off. With the virus being highly contagious, a possible outbreak, or at least hurdles that could ultimately end the season, are in the back of every player, coach, and person in the bubble. Hopefully this experiment lasts until October 13th, which would be Game 7 of the NBA Finals. For now, all we can do is hope and be optimistic. A few days ago, reports of 0 positive tests emerging from the bubble is a good sign for the league. Still, no one can afford to relax on Covid-protocol, or the season is over and no champion is crowned. Hopefully, everyone in the bubble remain cautious, to ensure the NBA can finish the craziest season in history. If that happens, and their health remains intact, the Rockets have a real shot at shocking the world in Florida, and winning a title.
Harden, Westbrook, and Houston needed a breather more than anyone. Coach Mike D’Antoni was running them into the ground before the break. The squad got worn out quicker than all the buzz about Tiger King. So, the Beard are co. should be ready to run and gun through a tough final 8 games before the playoffs begin. Besides Harden, other members of the squad have lost weight. Eric Gordon, who unfortunately turned his ankle in the final scrimmage, and will miss two weeks, also dropped the pounds. And Russell Westbrook doesn’t take any days off. Houston’s ready to run the wheels off this ride. The Rockets have a tough slate in the eight games they’ll play before the playoffs. This includes matchups with the Bucks, Lakers, Sixers, Mavs, and Pacers among other squads battling for playoff position.
Orlando’s bubble-scenario presents a perfect situation for the Rockets. No fans, no distractions, only on-court leadership and focus. Houston’s wings should be more comfortable letting it fly from distance. The Rockets take more threes than any team in the league, and despite initial rust that’s bound to creep up in the first few games, Houston should benefit most from playing in a neutral-based tournament. Most analysts recycle the same three teams when talking about title contenders: the Lakers, Clippers, and Bucks. Don’t be surprised if the Rockets surprise some people and make a splash in Orlando. We are near DisneyWorld, anything can happen. And despite their lack of size, James Harden and Russell Westbrook look primed to go on a historic run. Riding a rocket ship poised to thrive in this format. Those other contenders… they’re gonna need a bigger boat.