Change My View: The Bubble championship is the most pure championship ever

[JM00n69]

Yes, because all the stars playing they're hardest on every play screams of preseason vibes. No fans being in attendance doesn't hold any weight. If anything, the Lakers lost home court and still won it. But keep crying.

They had 4 months of R&R before playing in the “bubble” and yes no travel and not playing in front of fans is something that has never been done before so there is nothing “pure” about it. But keep being sensitive about it.

So every team had sufficient time to heal from injuries, no team benefited or were hurt by having to travel and sleep in different conditions (home vs a hotel), and no teams got the benefit of home court advantage. Sounds pretty even to me.

But LeBron won it, therefore "bad bad bad!!1"

LAL in particular benefitted the most for the extended time off that year. And let's not forget the very favorable whistle they got against DEN that whole series.

There's no asterisk on any title and they definitely earned it but to call it the purest ever championship is some next level reach. And it's not necessary, why even claim that?

[Lalouie]

it's not a "championship"

it's a tourney "winner"

[sashaturiaf]

Good chance Lakers win regardless but it was ugly basketball and I don’t know why we have this revisionist history saying it was anything but

I think we all know exactly why that is

[MrPainfulTruth]

LAL had three extra players on the floor in the Conf Finals that year. The league and their media partners needed them in the finals that year I guess because of the lockdown and sudden lack of cash flowing in. Whole series felt wrong, shades of '02. Nothing pure about that

Is it actually true that all teams were barred from practising until the start of the bubble but the lakers were secretly doing it as the only team?

[Bandwagon2019]

There’s not many actual neutral opinions on this subject. The bubble championship involved the Lakers and LeBron, so it’s either incredibly fraudulent on one end of the debate or the most impressive thing ever on the other. In my opinion the bubble stuff that happened across multiple sports in 2020 should have never happened. They should have just called off the seasons. Sports weren’t a priority anyways at that point in time and the setup of them made them feel like glorified exhibitions rather than actual playoffs. That said, the Lakers won their title with the same rules everyone else did, it’s a legit championship. But I don’t view it as being better or worse than any others, rather it was just a unique set of circumstances that hopefully we never see again.

[TheGOATRises007]

I see the viewpoint but don't agree.

Still a legit title obviously, but it's not the same without the crowds and extra media attention.

[canada_dry]

Still an asterisk.

The most unique conditions in history. Easier or harder. Doesn't matter.

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[canada_dry]

Lakers havent had a fully healthy playoff run outside of when there was a months long pause in the middle of the season.

Interesting.

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[SNPA]

Room service while living at a Disney resort, no travel, no crowds, just hanging out and playing basketball in empty gyms, after having 4 months of rest and recovery. But this was the most pure championship ever lol? Lebron James stans are a cult.

Again. Everyone was playing under the same conditions. Lebron haters at it again. Rent free.

Who do you think gains more advantage from not having to travel all of the time? A 24 year old or a 35 year old?

Who do you think benefits more from having a 3 month gap in the season to recover? A 24 year old or a 35 year old?

Who do you think benefits more from playing a 30 game season? A 24 year old or a 35 year old?

The bubble was the most advantageous situation that has ever existed for an “older” player (and I’m a Lebron fan). Lebron (smartly) took advantage of this but there must be some admission the bubble was more beneficial for players like him. It basically removed the entire “wear and tear” aspect of the NBA season (something that effects older players more so than younger).

Respect. This is the correct take and from a James fan.

It was closer to winning a preseason tournament than the real deal after 82 games.

[MavsDirk41]

Yes, because all the stars playing they're hardest on every play screams of preseason vibes. No fans being in attendance doesn't hold any weight. If anything, the Lakers lost home court and still won it. But keep crying.

They had 4 months of R&R before playing in the “bubble” and yes no travel and not playing in front of fans is something that has never been done before so there is nothing “pure” about it. But keep being sensitive about it.

So every team had sufficient time to heal from injuries, no team benefited or were hurt by having to travel and sleep in different conditions (home vs a hotel), and no teams got the benefit of home court advantage. Sounds pretty even to me.

But LeBron won it, therefore "bad bad bad!!1"

So Boston winning the championship 6 months ago was less pure because they played all 82 games in front of crowds, had to travel, and didnt get a 4 month break?

[Iwasawitness]

I just can't with this thread, on both sides.

The 2020 title is legit, no matter what way people want to spin it and no matter what kind of laughable excuse they come up with. They can try to bring up any irrelevant fact that they want. Keep trying to claim that the Lakers had some kind of magical advantage because old people benefit more from rest than younger people do (they don't, learn how the body works). But in the end... it's a legitimate NBA championship, that the Lakers won because they were the best TEAM that year, whether people want to admit it or not.

But going off of that point... I think that's where the OP has this all wrong. Yeah they played under different circumstances but they were beating teams left and right under normal circumstances... the expected outcome occurred, and it happened while avoiding arguably their two best challenges that season in the Clippers and Milwaukee. Why should I be impressed by that? Now, granted, I am of the opinion that the fifth seeded (not sixth seed like someone incorrectly stated) Miami Heat were an underrated team, but they were missing key players to injury. Yeah the Lakers were without Avery Bradley... fine, but that doesn't exactly equate to losing Bam and Dragic.

To me, the 2020 championship is the weakest of LeBron's four rings. Sure, it really set in stone the fact that LeBron can win under multiple systems, and it proved he never needed a super team to be successful. But in the end... it was his easiest path to a championship (ironic since it was his first one while being out West) and it was the first time you can really say he got extremely lucky, like everything just seemed to go his way. When it comes to ones like 2013 and 2016, 2020 just doesn't compare. It's a legitimate championship, but that doesn't mean it wasn't a weak one.

[MiltownMadness]

I personally don't count the 2020 title, we all know Lakers wouldn't be able to stay healthy under normal circumstances. I personally would consider 1 series upset more important than that "chip", sue me. It was a disgrace to the LOB. Calling it pure is so hilarious when the game is intended to be played in front of a roaring crowd, it was the equivalent of a mens league game in that regard. Everything about it is just sour to me.

And yes I know that my Bucks had like 65 wins that year and looked like the far away favorite before the huge covid layoff...doesnt matter. If we won that title I would only use it to argue for Giannis/Khris/Brook legacy, but as a fan I would feel so cheated and confused by that "title"

[ScrantonBulls]

They had 4 months of R&R before playing in the “bubble” and yes no travel and not playing in front of fans is something that has never been done before so there is nothing “pure” about it. But keep being sensitive about it.

So every team had sufficient time to heal from injuries, no team benefited or were hurt by having to travel and sleep in different conditions (home vs a hotel), and no teams got the benefit of home court advantage. Sounds pretty even to me.

But LeBron won it, therefore "bad bad bad!!1"

So Boston winning the championship 6 months ago was less pure because they played all 82 games in front of crowds, had to travel, and didnt get a 4 month break?

See the thread title.

[JM00n69]

LAL had three extra players on the floor in the Conf Finals that year. The league and their media partners needed them in the finals that year I guess because of the lockdown and sudden lack of cash flowing in. Whole series felt wrong, shades of '02. Nothing pure about that

Is it actually true that all teams were barred from practising until the start of the bubble but the lakers were secretly doing it as the only team?

What? You must've meant that as a reply to another post, it's got **** all to do what I said.

[ScrantonBulls]

I just can't with this thread, on both sides.

The 2020 title is legit, no matter what way people want to spin it and no matter what kind of laughable excuse they come up with. They can try to bring up any irrelevant fact that they want. Keep trying to claim that the Lakers had some kind of magical advantage because old people benefit more from rest than younger people do (they don't, learn how the body works). But in the end... it's a legitimate NBA championship, that the Lakers won because they were the best TEAM that year, whether people want to admit it or not.

But going off of that point... I think that's where the OP has this all wrong. Yeah they played under different circumstances but they were beating teams left and right under normal circumstances... the expected outcome occurred, and it happened while avoiding arguably their two best challenges that season in the Clippers and Milwaukee. Why should I be impressed by that? Now, granted, I am of the opinion that the fifth seeded (not sixth seed like someone incorrectly stated) Miami Heat were an underrated team, but they were missing key players to injury. Yeah the Lakers were without Avery Bradley... fine, but that doesn't exactly equate to losing Bam and Dragic.

To me, the 2020 championship is the weakest of LeBron's four rings. Sure, it really set in stone the fact that LeBron can win under multiple systems, and it proved he never needed a super team to be successful. But in the end... it was his easiest path to a championship (ironic since it was his first one while being out West) and it was the first time you can really say he got extremely lucky, like everything just seemed to go his way. When it comes to ones like 2013 and 2016, 2020 just doesn't compare. It's a legitimate championship, but that doesn't mean it wasn't a weak one.

The strength of the championship doesn't determine how "pure" it is. The Lakers dominated everybody and crushed an injury riddled Heat of course. But because of the circumstances, it was the purest, most balanced postseason for all teams.

[MavsDirk41]

So every team had sufficient time to heal from injuries, no team benefited or were hurt by having to travel and sleep in different conditions (home vs a hotel), and no teams got the benefit of home court advantage. Sounds pretty even to me.

But LeBron won it, therefore "bad bad bad!!1"

So Boston winning the championship 6 months ago was less pure because they played all 82 games in front of crowds, had to travel, and didnt get a 4 month break?

See the thread title.

I did and i cant stop laughing

[ScrantonBulls]

So Boston winning the championship 6 months ago was less pure because they played all 82 games in front of crowds, had to travel, and didnt get a 4 month break?

See the thread title.

I did and i cant stop laughing

If Jordan had won a bubble championship you and the other Jordan fans would have proclaimed it the greatest sporting achievement of all time.

[MiltownMadness]

Also, the premise of this thread is that HCA shouldn't exist in playoff basketball, making the RS pointless. One of the worst points imaginable. It's a troll thread. The roar of the home crowd is half the game. If you truly think this is the purest form of the basketball; then you think every game should be played in an empty gym. Think about that

[ScrantonBulls]

Also, the premise of this thread is that HCA shouldn't exist in playoff basketball, making the RS pointless. One of the worst points imaginable. It's a troll thread. The roar of the home crowd is half the game. If you truly think this is the purest form of the basketball; then you think every game should be played in an empty gym. Think about that

Of course it should exist. These were just unique circumstances where NEITHER team and homecourt advantage or disadvantage. The Lakers got screwed by not having the HCA that they won, but they overcame it and won the championship anyway.

[Lala870]

Theres no changing your view OP. You want to come in with a hot take for the sake of creating a narrative that no one was under rightfully placed distress being locked in their rooms for weeks/months at a time.

LA was going to win regardless in light of the Kobe situation in retrospect.

A winner was going to come from the bubble regardless and LA had all the momentum due to the Kobe ordeal. To say Lebron/AD etc had a huge chip on their shoulders compared to the rest of the league would be putting it mildly.