What Is The Nba Bubble?
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The NBA has been playing games in a “bubble” at Walt Disney World in Florida since July 2020. But what is the NBA bubble?
What is the NBA Bubble?
The NBA Bubble, also known as the Disney Bubble or the Orlando Bubble, is a controlled environment at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, used by the National Basketball Association (NBA) to protect its players from the COVID-19 pandemic during the 2020 playoffs. The NBA bubble began on July 7th and ended on October 13th.
The NBA bubble consisted of 22 teams: the 16 teams that were leading their respective conferences when the 2019-20 season was suspended on March 11 due to the pandemic, and six other teams within six games of the eighth seed in their conference. These 22 teams were seeded in a traditional playoff bracket, with each team playing eight seeding games to determine their playoff seedings. The playoffs began on August 17th and ended on October 13th, when the Los Angeles Lakers won the NBA Finals.
Players and staff were housed at three hotels in Walt Disney World: Gran Destino Tower at Coronado Springs Resort, Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, and Contemporary Resort. They were allowed to leave the bubble to attend certain family emergencies or for medical reasons, but had to quarantine for 10 days upon returning. Daily COVID-19 testing was conducted during the bubble, and any player or staff member who tested positive for COVID-19 was isolated from the rest of the group until they recovered.
The creation of the NBA bubble was widely praised as a success, as no players tested positive for COVID-19 during the duration of the bubble.
How did the NBA Bubble come about?
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States in early 2020, it brought the NBA season to a screeching halt. But after months of uncertainty, the league was able to resume play in a secure “bubble” environment at Walt Disney World in Florida.
So how did the NBA Bubble come about? The idea was first floated by superstar player LeBron James, who proposed a quarantined zone where games could be played without risk of infection. After months of negotiation and planning, the league was able to pull off this extraordinary feat, creating a safe and secure environment for players, coaches, and staff.
The NBA Bubble has been widely praised as a success, both in terms of protecting player safety and ensuring that the quality of play remains high. And while it’s not clear yet what the long-term impact of the Bubble will be, it’s certainly made a lasting impression on the league and its fans.
What are the benefits of the NBA Bubble?
The NBA Bubble has many benefits for the players and the league.
Some of the benefits for the players are:
-They don’t have to worry about the Coronavirus
-They can focus on basketball
-They are in a controlled environment
-They have access to world-class facilities and resources
Some of the benefits for the NBA are:
-It’s a way to finish the season
-It generates revenue from TV rights and sponsorship deals
-It protects the NBA’s image
-It sends a strong message to other leagues that they can safely return to play
What are the drawbacks of the NBA Bubble?
The NBA Bubble has its fair share of drawbacks, the main one being the lack of home-court advantage. While this may not be a huge deal for some teams, others thrive off of the energy that their home fans bring. Additionally, the NBA Bubble creates a bit of a false sense of security for the players. With everyone in one place and no fans in attendance, it’s easy for them to let their guard down and not take the necessary precautions to avoid injury.
How has the NBA Bubble affected the 2020 NBA season?
The NBA Bubble has been a welcomed and generally successful innovation in the 2020 NBA season. The deserted campus of the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida has served as a safe haven for the 22 teams invited to compete for the NBA championship this year. The league has done an commendable job of keeping players and staff isolated from the outside world, and as a result, there have been zero confirmed cases of COVID-19 among players since arriving at the Bubble on July 7th.
Of course, the NBA Bubble is not without its drawbacks. Most notably, the mental and emotional toll that comes with being isolated from family and friends for an extended period of time. In addition, some players have expressed frustration with the league’s decision to not allow families to join players in the Orlando campus until the Conference Finals.
Overall, however, the NBA Bubble has been a resounding success. It has allowed the league to resume its season in a safe and secure environment, and it has given fans some much-needed entertainment during these difficult times.