The Knicks and other non-bubble teams are getting left behind. Too bad
No matter what happens to the bubble teams, there is long-term value in gathering for a couple months and playing basketball.
Chemistry. Camaraderie. Fitness. Scheme repetition. Trust. Development. Just to name a few.
They always warn us that building culture and connection takes time. Well, this is precious time for 22 NBA teams that are trapped inside a bubble with nothing to distract them from getting better. The Nets are a great example. Although nobody thinks they can win the title, young players such as Jarrett Allen and Caris LeVert have clearly grown and, if nothing else, increased their trade value. Chris Chiozza and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot have given the front office more to think about to round out the roster. No matter what happens to Brooklyn in the first round against the Raptors, the bubble has been a positive experience toward next season.
But what about the other eight teams (the ‘Delete 8’), which includes the Knicks? Five months after their last game, these teams are still unable to host group workouts because of the pandemic restrictions. Most players are staying away from their training facilities. An assistant coach on a ‘Delete 8’ squad told the Daily News his players don’t see the point of showing up if 5-on-5s aren’t an option. At the same time, the union is understandably concerned about exposing its players to an environment that can’t possibly be as airtight as the Orlando bubble. There’s an effort to allow these teams — Knicks, Warriors, Bulls, Hornets, Timberwolves, Pistons, Hawks and Cavaliers — to conduct voluntary minicamps with testing protocols. That would help a little, but still not comparable to two or three months of intense basketball inside a bubble.
