As teams evaluate rosters and players heading into the offseason, one of the oddest conundrums is what to do about the NBA bubble games.
The bubble experience was a season unto itself — five months removed from the point where the season stopped in early March, and yet not part of the following season either. Fourteen of the 22 teams were eliminated before Labor Day, meaning they’ll have nearly another five months before they play another regular-season game.
In between, we have a series of eight to 15 games (for most) that are … what? Part of their 2019-20? An omen for their 2020-21? A little of both?
I struggled with how to handle this and I imagine teams are too. Some impressive countervailing forces square off here.
One’s first instinct is to count the bubble games less, given the contrived environment, the unique circumstances, and the potential differences in both health and preparation among players. Before the games…
