The National Basketball Association cannot but be happy with how its bubble experiment has progressed so far. For the fourth consecutive week, its mass testing of players has resulted in zero positive results — proof, if nothing else, of the effectiveness of the stringent health and safety protocols it has put in place at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida. And while broadcast ratings haven’t exactly been the bonanza conventional wisdom envisioned in light of the seeming absence of entertainment options under the new normal, they nonetheless underscore the continued appeal of the league’s principal product.
Indeed, matches over the last month have been significantly compelling. Even as the initial schedule was designed to enhance the fitness of players after having been subjected to a lengthy break, competition has been fierce. The battle for the last playoff spot in the West has, in particular, come down to the last day of the seeding games. The Grizzlies, Blazers, Spurs, and Suns all have at least partial control of their fates, underscoring the importance of every contest in today’s slate.
Parenthetically, the developments have both been a result of and led to outstanding showings from supposed fodder. The Suns, for instance, have exceeded themselves, racking up seven straight victories; one more win, and they cement their singular unbeaten status. The Spurs have likewise surprised longtime hoops habitues with consistently gritty efforts despite the absence of seven-time All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge. And the Blazers, starring prospective bubble Most Valuable Player Damian Lillard, have overcome intrinsic frailties with a heady mixture of purpose, perseverance, and pride.
All of the above translate to a turn of events the NBA will be presenting with pleasure this weekend. When the runup to the playoffs was being drawn up, the play-in series looked more like a possibility at best. Now that it has become a certainty, it figures to be a can’t-miss proposition regardless of the protagonists involved. The unique mechanics will require the ninth seed to prevail against the eighth seed twice, and the latter just once over the former, in order to claim the last postseason spot in the West. And, make no mistake, it’s not simply a right to face the Lakers in the first round. Because there is effectively no such thing as homecourt advantage on campus, registering an “upset” against the conference top seed isn’t as Sisyphean an endeavor as it looks on paper.
In other words, motivations run high because the Grizzlies, Blazers, Spurs, and Suns know winning today won’t just mean staying alive. As far as they’re concerned, the hardware is up for grabs — and darned if they won’t make the most of the opportunity.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and Human Resources management, corporate communications, and business development.
