Portland Trail Blazers: 3 storylines to watch for during scrimmage games

PORTLAND, OREGON - FEBRUARY 09: Carmelo Anthony #00 of the Portland Trail Blazers is introduced to the starting lineup prior to taking on the Miami Heat during their game at Moda Center on February 09, 2020 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OREGON - FEBRUARY 09: Carmelo Anthony #00 of the Portland Trail Blazers is introduced to the starting lineup prior to taking on the Miami Heat during their game at Moda Center on February 09, 2020 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
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Portland Trail Blazers
CJ McCollum, Portland Trail Blazers. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)

3 — How do the players respond to the “bubble?”

With the passing day, this NBA season resumption is beginning to feel more like a season of Gilligan’s Island, and we haven’t even reached a tip-off yet. In counting the unnamed Milwaukee Bucks player, the league has now had 30 of a possible 351 players contract the virus.

That’s nearly a tenth of the league, and while things could cool down once the players are in the bubble, it just so happens that the Portland Trail Blazers’ three scrimmage games will all be against teams with players who fall into that list.

The Blazers players as a whole have been vocal about their doubts, ahead of Thursday’s flight. Lillard has gone on record in saying he doesn’t feel confident in the thinking that those in the bubble will abide by the rules completely, and McCollum and Anthony have been outspoken, too.

Taking note of how the players respond both mentally and physically to the bubble will be interesting, especially considering the new rules.

Potential measures are there; on the Lowe Post Podcast, Brian Windhorst discussed the success of the bubble in the Chinese Basketball Association, and the “draconian” measures they’ve used — stay in your hotel … or else — and they’ve found success with that. As the day continues to push forward, it should be interesting to see if the NBA takes on some of these ideas.

In the meantime, we can stick to the wildly positive. The Blazers are headed to Orlando, a city they haven’t lost in since 2015. So, how about that for some momentum?