Hey world, long time no see. Since we last spoke, I moved back home, earned my degree, and upgraded pretty much every technological aspect of my life to eliminate all potential excuses to not hammer out posts for you. But you know how I am, so we can never be sure.

I have a spattering of thoughts about the NBA, the whole bubble experience, and on some other things, so here they go.

1. Of course we’ll start with the purple and gold. Assessing the Lakers bubble experience kind of depends on what you expected from them. I pretty much got what I thought I was going to get. They went hard against the Clippers to make sure they knew the last meeting before COVID wasn’t a fluke, and likewise in the game against Utah to clinch the #1 seed. Then every other game was a hodgepodge uninspired ball due to the fact that they knew the games didn’t mean anything, and different lineup tests from head coach Frank Vogel. I don’t have any added concerns that I didn’t bring with me to the bubble, which are the uncertainty on both ends at the guard spots in the absence of Avery Bradley and Rajon Rondo (who should be back sometime beyond the first-second rounds), as well as the overall health of the rest of the squad staying intact (Kuz, Caruso, and KCP are banged up, among others). All in all, I don’t have too much concern regarding people not named Giannis, PG, Kawhi, and…
2. Dame mother f’ing Dolla. First off the Clippers, after everything that’s happened, still felt the need to purposefully piss off Damian Lillard to make sure he wore out the Lakers as much as he could before they get their hands on them. But regardless of Patrick Beverly uncanny ability to be the most annoying man in sports, Dame unleashed fury these last three bubble games for Portland, including a 40-plus point performance against Brooklyn to clinch their right to destroy Memphis in the play-in game. If we weren’t in on Lillard being a baaaaad man before this, update your horrid NBA view.
3. The Phoenix Suns might finally be back. Tough break to go undefeated in the bubble restart and still somehow not get into the dance. I know they’re literally another year or so away from joining my list of Western Conference foes I know the Lakers will have to seriously deal with, but isn’t it just so Suns of the Suns to not lose a game and still go home when the fun’s over?
4. The East might be a little more fun than we previously thought, with strong bubble performances coming from Indiana, Toronto, and Boston. Miami hasn’t been a total standout, but I have them getting past the Pacers and giving Milwaukee all they can handle.
5. A few dudes came to the bubble ready to turn the hell up, and it’s been beautiful to watch. If I had to run a top 5, I’d go D-Book (the Suns roster to be honest), Harden even though his style depresses me, TJ Warren even though Jimmy Butler will ‘son’ him in the playoffs, Dame and his little revenge tour, and Caris LeVert willing the Nets to wins by filling in every category game after game. Speaking of Brooklyn…
6. These dudes are going to be an absolute problem next season when they get healthy. KD and Kyrie will not be far from short on talent from their supporting cast. I like Kyrie, Joe Harris, KD, Kurucs/Prince, Jarrett Allen as their potential starting five. Harris and Kurucs or Taurean Prince cutting and spotting up to punish the defense when they try to double team Kyrie and KD, and Jarrett Allen cleaning up down low. That would leave LeVert, Spencer Dinwiddie, DeAndre Jordan, Garrett Temple, and whomever PF you aren’t starting as their second unit. Good luck East. For real.
7. Circling back to the Lakers ‘cuz I can, the Dion Experiment is another thing that essentially went how I thought. He came in a little rusty, as evident in his jumper and at times defensively. But he will display flashes of exactly what Rob Pelinka brought him in to do: get the Lakers bench a bucket when no one else will. Didn’t see a single guard stop him on an isolation-drive, and his shot looked a lot better the latter half of the 8 bubble games. Lakers will need everything Waiters Island can give them. And he’s earned my confidence.
8. As far as the JR Smith experiment, I can’t really speak on, seeing as the guy didn’t play all that much. He had that one monster scrimmage game against Washington, but otherwise he saw pretty limited minutes, which figures with guys like Waiters, Caruso, etc. undoubtedly going to garner those extra minutes left vacant by AB and Rondo. He simply looked like a guy who hasn’t played in however long it’s been for him. But he never to me looked like a guy who shouldn’t be there. I’ve got some faith in him. Remember when Dwight Howard seemed like a bad idea last offseason? You never know dude. Mark my words folks, there will be a game this postseason Laker fans and NBA fans alike label “The JR Smith Game.” Now whether that label is given affectionately or negatively, we’ll wait and see. Until then, long live the Henny God.
9. Clips still look better on paper. But I have questions about their chemistry. Your two best guys continued to alternate playing days, Lou Williams missed time for strip club wings, and Montrezl Harrell will have but a few days to reinstate himself into the rotation. I assume the guy stayed in shape like everyone else did during the NBA hiatus and in his time outside the bubble, but guys who’ve been in Orlando the entire time look and have admitted that they aren’t completely back, even this late into things. Of course, with a roster as loaded his theirs, they stand firm as the West’s strongest team, and whatever chinks in the armor the Lakers can find, they’ll take.
10. Lastly, I’d like to take this time to show love to all the Lakers fans that stuck out the hard times. Kobe’s Achilles tear. Talking ourselves into roster after roster of bums. Robert fucking Sacre. Taking all the bumps and bruises from the rebuilding youngsters, and their mountain of mistakes. Watching Golden State, although rightfully so, completely 180 control of the league, punishing us with every vengeful three they drained on us. Shamelessly defending Lonzo (still am, won’t ever stop) despite all Lavar Ball’s attempts to turn us into a circus. All the bullshit off-court drama (the Swaggy-D-Lo scandal, Lavar again, Magic’s tampering and resignation). Signing LeBron, drooling over finally being relevant again, just to have him get seriously hurt for the first time in his career right when we looked like we had it figured out, and ultimately missing the playoffs AGAIN. Kobe’s death. COVID-19 putting the entire world on lockdown, and almost costing us our championship run.
    
    We’re the #1 seed. LeBron James and Anthony Davis lead our team.
    No one’s laughing at us anymore.
    Whatever happens, I’m so thankful for this season. It’s finally been fun to be a Laker fan again.
    
    I wrote this with Laugh Now Cry Later on repeat.
    
    Onward to the playoffs.