COVID-19 has severely affected not only the lives of every American, but it has also affected the amateur and professional sports teams and their conferences and leagues. The Ivy League decided to cancel its fall sports months ago, and the MAC Conference postponed its football season until next year. It also looks as if there will be no college football this fall for the BIG 10 and PAC 10 as their presidents decided to postpone their season until Spring 2021. The SEC, ACC, and Big 12 Conferences are still holding fast (as of this writing) and seem to want to play no matter how it might affect their young athletes.
For the National Basketball Association (NBA), league commissioner Adam Silver has managed to create a protected environment for the league to continue its season which was suspended in March. Appropriately named “The Bubble” and located in the Disney World Complex in Orlando, Florida, the NBA has created a cocoon of sorts for 22 teams to complete their 2019-2020 seasons.
The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the 22 teams, and after a stellar season, lead the Western Conference in wins. They are poised to win the NBA Championship for the first time since legendary Lakers players Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Derek Fisher did so in 2010. As they continue their season in “The Bubble,” COVID-19 has left an indelible impression on the team. The biggest Lakers news was that Avery Bradley, their starting point guard, has chosen to opt-out of finishing the season in Orlando. Bradley’s son is immuno-compromised, and Bradley decided to stay home to protect his family from the pandemic and its possible deadly consequences.
Bradley’s choice could have a dramatic effect on the LeBron James led Lakers and their run to become NBA Champions. Besides being one of their best perimeter defenders, few guards in basketball can apply full court defensive pressure like Bradley. He provided a steady, blue-collar work ethic to the Laker backcourt with his willingness to fight through screens and alter the flow of opposing offenses. He will be sorely missed as the Lakers will meet elite scoring guards in their march to the 2020 title.
The Lakers trade for Anthony Davis and Danny Green before the season started, brought two of the best defenders in the NBA to Los Angeles. That should help in offsetting the loss of Bradley and could help bring the Championship trophy back to LA.
The Lakers first big test begins Tuesday against Damian Lillard and the Portland Trailblazers. The Blazers’ backcourt tandem of Lillard and C.J. McCollum have been a thorn in the side of many defensive game plans in The Bubble. It will be interesting to watch how the Lakers counter with their defensive talent. Stay tuned for an exciting finish to a season wrought with interruption and uncertainty.