Ahead of the NBA’s restart on Thursday, we decided to take a quick look at the biggest question each of the 22 teams still playing face.
The NBA is back. After a four and a half month hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the league will restart the 2019-20 season at Disney World on Thursday evening with a double-header of games on TNT: The New Orleans Pelicans and the Utah Jazz will square off at 6:30 p.m. EST, followed by a tilt between the Los Angeles squads at 9 p.m.
It’s been a while since we’ve seen basketball, and for the 22 squads that are in the bubble, they’re going from 0 to 60 in the blink of an eye, as eight seeding games will determine who plays for a championship this year. Before that begins, we wanted to look at each of those squads and try to answer their biggest questions before things tip off and the race to lift the Larry O’Brien trophy begins, starting at the bottom of the standings.
Washington Wizards: Can they pull off a miracle?
The bad news for Washington is that John Wall won’t be able to return for the bubble, while Bradley Beal is out with a shoulder injury and Davis Bertans has decided to opt out of the restart as well. It would take a miracle for them to make up the gap on the eight seed — the Orlando Magic are 5.5-games up right now, but the Brooklyn Nets (currently six games up on Washington) are dealing with a thin roster of their own. Maybe Rui Hachimura morphs into a killer wing scorer, or Isaiah Thomas is able to explode, or Thomas Bryant cannot be kept from imposing his will in the paint. But in all likelihood, this is about getting younger dudes run before next season, when a healthy Washington side will have postseason aspirations. They only need to get within four games to force a play-in series, but even that seems like an exceptional long shot.
Phoenix Suns: Can they set the table for a playoff push next year? Getty Image
Phoenix is in a similar boat to Washington, although they’re heading into the bubble healthy and ready to battle. The Suns are a team that has struggled to establish a foundation in recent years, but the bubble gives them a chance to do just that — Devin Booker is playing in meaningful basketball games for the first time in his career, as are other young pillars like Deandre Ayton and Mikal Bridges. Jumping five teams and getting the 8-seed seems nearly impossible, especially considering they’re six games back of No. 8 Memphis right now. They’ll be a handful to deal with, though, and at the very least, we’ll get to watch Booker cook dudes on offense, Ayton continue his development as a two-way player, and Bridges do ludicrous stuff like this on defense.
Bridges LOCKING Tatum. pic.twitter.com/XRrtpBkzO1
Mike Vigil (@protectedpick) July 26,2020
San Antonio Spurs: Is this the last time we’re going to see Pop?
The rumblings about Gregg Popovich having an eye on retirement at some point in the not-too-distant future have been around for awhile, but he’s continued to stick around. Unfortunately for the Spurs, it’s hard to see a way for them to leap four other teams, especially because they’re four games back of the 8-seed and will not have the services of LaMarcus Aldridge in tow. Then again, if anyone can figure out how to take some bubble gum, a straw, and a paperclip and MacGyver the kind of rocket ship San Antonio would need to strap on their backs en route to pulling off a miracle, it’s Pop. Still, here’s to hoping that the next time we see him after this all comes to an end isn’t during next summer’s Olympics.
Sacramento Kings: Do they have the horses to leapfrog three teams?
Prior to the season going on hiatus, Sacramento was one of the hottest teams in the league, winning 13 of their last 20 games and getting within striking distance of the 8-seed. Finding that form as soon as they can once games starts, especially considering they have a pair of tilts against the Pelicans, will be crucial. It would help plenty if both De’Aaron Fox and Buddy Hield, two very good players, can make something of a leap and go from a pair of very good players to a pair of superstars. They’ve been the forgotten team in a lot of discussions about the race for 8th in the West, as they’re tied with Portland and New Orleans, and can force the acknowledgement of the basketball world by getting into a play-in.
New Orleans Pelicans: How do they handle expectations?
The Pelicans have been in a pretty interesting situation this season. No Zion Williamson for the first half of the year or so meant that their job was to stay afloat, then upon Zion’s return, they looked and played like a playoff team. Now, New Orleans faces the easiest schedule of any team in the league in Orlando, and even their toughest game will occur against a Los Angeles Clippers team that is not at full strength. Veterans like Derrick Favors, Jrue Holiday, and J. Redick will be gigantic in this endeavor, but the Pelicans’ numerous youngsters are getting thrown head-first into the deep end, and guys like Williamson and Brandon Ingram will learn early on if they’ll sink or swim.
Portland Trail Blazers: Can a suddenly stout frontcourt make up for a questionable wing rotation? Getty Image
Zach Collins and Jusuf Nurkic are back, which is a gigantic boost for a Blazers team that was relying heavily on Hassan Whiteside and Carmelo Anthony in the frontcourt. With two legitimate centers and two legitimate power forwards, Portland can roll out some gigantic lineups in support of Damian Lillard and C. J. McCollum. The issue is at the three, where the Blazers are basically a gigantic question mark. Anthony likely doesn’t have the quickness to play there for lengthy stretches anymore (but it seems they’ll try that), and it might come down to hoping one of Mario Hezonja, Nassir Little, or Gary Trent giving them consistently solid minutes.
Orlando Magic: Can a healthy team give a top-2 seed problems?
Currently the 8-seed in the East, Orlando seems like a safe bet to leapfrog the 7-seed Nets, which sit a half-game up entering the bubble but have issues we’ll dive into momentarily. While picking them to go on a run in the playoffs is a stretch, Jonathan Isaac being back from a knee injury is huge as the lynchpin of their defense. It’s a good chance to get run for their youngsters — Mo Bamba, Markelle Fultz, and Isaac — alongside the vets who are going to be in Orlando for a long time after they went all-in on bringing this group back last summer.
