2025-11-11 11:00
by
nlpkak
Looking back at the 2020 NBA season feels like examining a fascinating anomaly in basketball history. The pandemic created unprecedented circumstances, and as someone who's followed basketball for decades, I've never seen a championship race with so many variables at play. That strange bubble environment in Orlando reminded me somewhat of the 1985 PBA situation where unexpected opportunities emerged for underdogs - though obviously on a much larger scale. When the league shut down in March, everything we thought we knew about championship probabilities got thrown out the window.
The Lakers entered the bubble as legitimate favorites, and I'd put their chances at around 28% at that point. LeBron James in his 17th season was still arguably the best player in the world, and Anthony Davis gave them a dominant two-way force that few teams could match. Their championship experience and defensive versatility made them built for playoff basketball, though their perimeter shooting concerned me at times. The supporting cast had just enough shooting and defense to complement their stars, and Frank Vogel had them playing with remarkable defensive discipline.
Meanwhile, the Clippers presented what I considered the most intriguing challenger, with probably 22% championship odds. Kawhi Leonard was coming off his legendary Toronto run, and Paul George, when healthy, gave them another elite two-way wing. Their depth was impressive on paper - Lou Williams, Montrezl Harrell, Marcus Morris - but the chemistry questions lingered throughout the season. I remember thinking their regular season performances never quite matched their talent level, and the bubble environment seemed to magnify those cohesion issues.
The Bucks fascinated me with their dominant regular season, and I'd estimate they had about 18% chance when play resumed. Giannis Antetokounmpo was the defending MVP and arguably the most physically dominant force we've seen since prime Shaq. Their system under Mike Budenholzer produced historic regular season numbers, but the playoff questions remained. The supporting cast had improved, but the halfcourt offense still worried me against elite playoff defenses. The extended break actually hurt teams like Milwaukee that relied on rhythm and continuity.
Then we had the dark horses, and this is where things got really interesting. The Celtics probably sat around 8% with their young core and defensive versatility. Jayson Tatum was blossoming into a true superstar before our eyes, and their switch-heavy defense seemed built for modern playoff basketball. The Rockets with their radical small-ball approach had maybe 6% odds - James Harden's offensive brilliance gave them a puncher's chance in any series, though I questioned their sustainability. The Raptors as defending champions deserved respect at around 7%, though losing Kawhi seemed like too much to overcome.
The middle tier included teams like Denver at 4%, Miami at 3%, and Philadelphia at 2%. The Nuggets had Jokic and Murray but lacked defensive consistency. Miami's culture and coaching gave them an edge, though I underestimated how perfectly their roster was constructed for bubble basketball. Philadelphia's fit issues plagued them all season despite their talent. The lower tier teams like Utah, Dallas, Oklahoma City, and Portland all sat around 1% or less - each had exciting elements but significant flaws that made championship runs unlikely.
What made the bubble so unique was how it leveled the playing field in ways we hadn't seen before. The absence of home-court advantage, the unusual living conditions, the mental toll of isolation - all these factors created openings for teams that might have struggled in normal circumstances. It reminded me of that 1985 PBA situation where unexpected opportunities emerged for underdogs when conventional structures broke down. Teams with strong internal cultures and mental toughness gained advantages that weren't apparent during the regular season.
The Lakers ultimately proved to be the best team when it mattered most, which didn't surprise me given their star power and experience. LeBron's leadership through that strange period was masterful, and Davis delivered on both ends throughout the playoffs. The Heat's surprising run to the finals demonstrated how preparation and culture could overcome talent gaps in those unique conditions. Looking back, the championship probabilities we discussed before the bubble seem almost quaint now - the unusual circumstances reshaped everything in ways nobody could have predicted. The 2020 championship will always stand apart in NBA history, not just for the circumstances but for how it reminded us that basketball, at its core, adapts to whatever environment it finds itself in.
