NBA 2020-21: What the December 22 start of new season would mean for reigning champs Los Angeles Lakers?
The outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic meant sports leagues across the world in full swing, had to come to a screeching halt. And while Major League Baseball, the NBA and the Premier League were among the few sports to resume action slowly, it is safe to say the NBA was one such league that handled games and bubble life better than most sports. The restart ended on October 11 with the Los Angeles Lakers crowned champions after a hard-fought series against the Miami Lakers.
And just a month later, the players from both camps would probably be looking with doubts on their faces as the NBA announced that December 22 will see the start of the 2020-21 season. The NBPA gave its nod and the training camp starts December 1 which will then be followed by a 72-game season. It will be particularly worrying for the Lakers and the Heat players, more so for the former as they have five players well over their 30s and that would mean their bodies would need some downtime to recover from the intense schedule they have just finished.
There is no question about how the cons would be more for a side like the Lakers as they prepare for another arduous season ahead. To start with, there's that question of health and wellness. While the NBA has taken steps to ensure players' health to provide the players with access to mental health pros ahead of the 2019-20 season, this just might be too draining for the players despite the resources. It also means players will have less than eight weeks to spend quality time with their families.
The second would be returning to back to the bubble life. While there is an agreement that it is the safest option that is out there, the fact that it will be without family close to them will have a negative impact. Apart from playing the sport, players would probably have a limited outlet and several players have spoken about their thoughts in the bubble. According to Fansided, Paul George of the Los Angeles Clippers said he was anxious and suffered a little bit of depression.
“It’s tough, it’s just really hard being in here. It’s not easy. All-day it’s just basketball, it’s hard to get away from it…we’re all dealing with it," he said. Anyone who has played sport at a professional level at some stage would know the mental fatigue plays a more prominent role than physical exertion. It could hinder the athlete's future. Despite shaving off 10 games, the season will go up to June, and the length will most definitely take a toll on the player's bodies.
A side like the Lakers with players like Rajon Rondo, LeBron James, Javale McGee, Dwight Howard and Danny Green, all well above their 30s will have every reason to be concerned. The injury probability given the workload will be high especially for these players. That they have played an average of three games a week and the number of minutes played should be taken into consideration. While it is no secret these players keep their body like a well-oiled machine, the unprecedented workload will surely take a toll.
As far as mental health is concerned, the pressure to retain the title will be higher. This just adds to the extensive bubble life procedures making this a tough ask from the team. Will they combat it for an encore? Only time will tell.