Imagine if an NBA team had an entire hotel to themselves.
According to the NBA’s return-to-play format, teams will be booted out of the “Disney bubble” once their respective seasons are over. With only six teams at the Yacht Club and, realistically, only one team possibly qualifying for the playoffs, the Disney hotel may temporarily be “Zion’s Yacht Club.”
On this week’s episode of That’s A Rap, we delve into the issues that are troubling NBA players outside of the bubble, as well as everything happening inside of it!
In This Episode:
Lots of NBA players are talking about the return of organized basketball. The discussion points, as with the rest of 2020, have not been what we assumed. Kyrie Irving and 79 other NBA players recently held a conference call to reason out the merits of entering the bubble, considering today’s social climate and current COVID-19 numbers. Say what you want about Irving, who has been the punching bag for everyone who are essentially saying, “shut up and dribble”, but he has been a leader to many silenced voices. Avery Bradley and Dwight Howard have also spoken up about possibly sitting out of the bubble, in favour of using their respective platforms to enact social change. Which NBA players do you think may sit out?
For those that will play, the NBA has laid out a 6-phase return-to-play format — in a tidy 113-page document — that covers the five W’s: Who is allowed inside the bubble? When can basketball begin? Where will teams be playing? What happens if someone does not want to play? Why are the Phoenix Suns invited??
The NBA is also reportedly opening up an anonymous hotline to report violations. Every Buck and Laker better be on their best behaviour. They’ve already lost the home court advantage they’d spent all season building towards. It would be a shame if Brook Lopez or Javale McGee were caught sneaking out of the bubble. Actually, I can already imagine that hotline taking such calls, regardless if they’re true!
Hotel arrangements for NBA teams heading to Orlando. pic.twitter.com/BnPTtRN3GE
— theScore (@theScore) June 16, 2020
Over the next six weeks, the biggest discussion points will likely center around the hotels. There have not been any indications, yet, of a Big Brother style setup where cameras are everywhere. However, the amount of shenanigans that could possibly take place are endless and, mostly, quite hilarious. Would anyone be surprised if Howard was caught with a paper cup to his ear while eavesdropping on Doc Rivers’ room? How much tampering will occur with Giannis Antetokounmpo? What happens if the youngest team in the NBA (Grizzlies) have their rooms situated near the oldest team (Lakers)? Late night rowdiness, anyone?
With the world’s best basketball players under one proverbial roof, the reunions will also be memorable. Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan. Marc Gasol and Mike Conley. OG Anunoby and Rudy Gobert. Alright, maybe not all memorable! As for the actual games, not only will we hear the squeaking of shoes and players calling out plays, but with players allowed to attend games, we could also hear Joel Embiid and Chris Paul heckling!
2:50 - Kyrie’s revolution
14:45 - Phase 1 & 2: To play or not to play
25:25 - Phases 3-6: Hotline Snitch
37:30 - Hotel shenanigans
43:55 - An-tamper-kounmpo returns
47:10 - Awkward situations
49:40 - Suite life
52:35 - Players as fans