By John Ezekiel J. Hirro
After more than four months of NBA basketball drought, it’s finally back!
Eight of the 22 teams that qualified for the NBA bubble in Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida returned to action today, playing in scrimmage games prior to the league’s July 31 restart.
Here are some takeaways from the four games:
1. It’s a Bol world, after all.
Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone wasted no time playing with lineups in his first game back. He played a starting backcourt of seven-foot Nikola Jokic and 6-foot-8 Jerami Grant, and gave the green light to 7-foot-2 Bol Bol’s NBA debut.
starting at point guard for your Denver Nuggets pic.twitter.com/uqL5BWqjrX
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) July 22, 2020
Bol, son of the late Manute Bol, one of the tallest players in league history, showed flashes of his unicorn-like skillset in his first NBA action since being drafted 44th overall in the 2019 NBA Draft.
I mean, look at this play:
What can’t @BolBol do?! #MileHighBasketball pic.twitter.com/mUOmb16EQU
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) July 22, 2020
Bol impressed with his blocking, shooting and ball-handling skills in 32 minutes of play. He tallied 16 points, 10 rebounds and six blocks.
The league’s response? Scheduling him for a random drug test.
2. Y’all wanted fans?
No fans are allowed in games throughout the NBA restart, but the league has found a way for players to hear their team chants and see their home crowd:
Miami had fans chanting “Let’s Go Heat” and “Defense” on the video board. pic.twitter.com/hOY735h0Sy
— ESPN (@espn) July 23, 2020
3. Clippers are deep.
The Los Angeles Clippers were without Patrick Beverley, Landry Shamet, Ivica Zubac and Montrezl Harrell, but the additions of Marcus Morris, Reggie Jackson and Joakim Noah proved big to supply the team roster with additional ball handling, shooting and defense.
4. Paul George looks healthy.
In the past two seasons, Paul George was banged up and injury-riddled during playoffs. But with the NBA’s four-month hiatus, last year’s MVP runner-up looks rejuvenated as ever, finishing with 18 points and five rebounds in 19 minutes.
Didn’t miss a beat.@Yg_Trece posted 18 points, including four threes, in 19 minutes of play. pic.twitter.com/HA5D7YI41x
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) July 22, 2020
5. Lack of stars hurt Wizards, Nets.
Bradley Beal and Davis Bertans are out for the Washington Wizards. Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, Spencer Dinwiddie, DeAndre Jordan, Taurean Prince and Wilson Chandler will not play for the duration of the restart for the Brooklyn Nets.
The two teams, both vying for the final playoff spots in the Eastern Conference, introduced new bodies and lineups, and with how they played in their first scrimmage games, they sure look like they need a lot of getting used to.