QUARANTITLE - 7/31

1. Magic (128) vs Nets (118)

• Orlando Home Court - While I don't expect this to make too much of a difference in the playoffs, there's something to be said about the Restart taking place in Orlando as opposed to other locations. The Magic's already close proximity to Disneyland would require less adjustment to the area compared to other teams. This would be much more advantageous to a more successful team.

• Brooklyn is the Worst Team in the Bubble - This may be low hanging fruit but the Nets are awful. Through no fault of their own, nearly every playoff starter-caliber player is injured. Unfortunately, they've managed to secure a playoff spot due to the weakness of the Eastern Conference which means we'll be seeing more from this squad.

• Magic One Piece Away - To be clear, this means one piece away from consistent playoff contention. Let's not get crazy here and say the Magic could be a title contender with one addition. However, I could see an All Star guard like Victor Oladipo or Bradley Beal turning the team around. They've built a solid foundation defensively but lack a go-to guy to close out games. Don't be surprised if they take a leap within the next few seasons.

2. Suns (125) vs Wizards (112)

• The Irrelevance Bowl - As much of a junkie as I am, I couldn't force myself to watch this game. Neither team had any right to be invited to Orlando in the first place and by principle I won't support a game between the two. I'm not enthusiastic about their futures either due to a blend of incompetent management and untimely injuries. Phoenix and Washington fans, I salute you.

• Every Suns Player Would Be Better on a Different Team - Contrary to my previous point, I actually really like nearly every player on the Suns individually. Together? Clearly not a match. But in the right situations? Absolutely! Throw Deandre Ayton on a team lacking size such as the Celtics or Clippers and he's an instant playoff contributor. Send Devin Booker to the Magic and they become a playoff team as explained in my earlier point. This squad has a ton of talent just without the proper coaching to utilize it.

3. Trail Blazers (140) vs Grizzlies (135)

• Most Fun Game of 2020? - I had to wait a few hours to start this article just to give myself a chance to breathe after the 53 minutes of chaos that Portland and Memphis brought to us. This game was loaded with thrilling sequences containing scrappy defense, high flying offense, and a trash-talking edge that is sorely missed from the league today. I'll never get tired of watching two uber-competitive players bark at each other throughout the game in spite of some quick-trigger technicals being fired their way. This game, along with every other nationally televised game in the bubble, was amazing from start to finish. If these first two days are any indication of how the rest of the bubble will go, we're in good shape.

• Clutch Melo - Admittedly, I was in the anti-Melo camp this preseason. Those ugly times with Houston and Oklahoma City swayed me to the negative side. However, credit where credit is due, Melo came up huge for the Blazers today. Every time they needed his shooting, he delivered in a big way. I'll graciously forget his missed game winner in favor of his previous two clutch threes.

• Best JJJ Has Ever Played - As a diehard Grizzlies fan, I've never been totally sold on JJJ's intensity during games. I don't doubt his talent and pure unicorn tendencies, but his in-game efforts have always left me wanting more. That was not the case during today's 3pm matinee. Jackson seemed locked in from the opening tip and played with a confident edge that I see in his teammates Ja and Dillon Brooks. He finished with 33pts and shades of a dominant future as he improves.

4. Bucks (119) vs Celtics (112)

• I Missed Mike Breen - It's been too long since I've heard Mike Breen's golden voice call a game. Believe it or not, I missed him more than a few of the teams included in the bubble. It would be rude to call those teams out though. Don't you agree Brooklyn, Washington, San Antonio, and Phoenix?

• Is Smart the Best Defender in the NBA? - Marcus Smart's defensive prowess has been well-documented throughout his tenure in the league. He's a guy you can matchup with nearly anyone on the perimeter and count on him to get a stop. However, nobody would've expected him to hold his ground so well against Giannis. While he didn't totally shut down the reigning MVP, he was able to somewhat neutralize all of his post-up attempts which is doubly impressive given his size compared to the Freak.

5. Spurs (129) vs Kings (120)

• The De'Aaron Fox Show - Fox scored a massively entertaining 39 points in a game nobody watched. Sadly, this is how most of his career has played out due to the low popularity and success of his team. Fox is an outstanding athlete whose speed rivals Russell Westbrook and handle of the game is second to none at his age. It's truly a shame that he doesn't get the recognition he deserves, but I'd expect he will soon. Unfortunately for Sacramento fans, it'll probably be on a different team.

• The Spurs Shouldn't Be Here - Despite the win, 2020 is a rough a time to be a Spurs fan. They have no clear future or star to build on. Their best player, LaMarcus Aldridge, essentially chose to sit out for the Restart. Their coach of 24 years, Gregg Popovich, could be seeing his last season. Nothing seems to be going right. I hate to put down the Spurs after decades of greatness but this is certainly a dark time for the franchise.

6. Rockets (153) vs Mavericks (149)

• Trey Burke? What? - In the most shocking part of today's second overtime thriller, Trey Burke came out of nowhere and torched Houston for 31 points. Burke started 7/7 from 3 and led a number of possessions for the team rather than Luka or Seth Curry. Only time will tell if he's able to replicate this offensive production in Orlando.

• Harden Isn't Skinny, But He's Still Unstoppable - The media fooled us when we were shown a picture of a seemingly slimmed down version James Harden during the hiatus. However, Harden fooled nobody tonight as he dropped 49 points on Dallas as if the season never stopped. His perfect free throw miss which set up RoCo's game-saving tip in was so unbelievably accurate that I'm not sure if he did it intentionally or not. Regardless, Harden proved that the time off hasn't affected his game in the slightest.

• Mavs Beat Rockets At Their Own Game - Disregarding the final score of the game, Dallas showed that they could hang with Houston at what they do best - 3 point shooting. The Mavs outshot them from beyond the arch, 21 threes to 19. The entire Houston organization has been very outspoken about their strategies around 3 point shooting and extreme efficiency and continued to play that way in the bubble. I found it fascinating how they were able to force Dallas to adjust their playstyle to almost emulate their own in both the 5-out formation and 50+ 3pt attempts. For more about this game and future Mavs games, check out Owen Daryani's recap tomorrow.

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