Hoops Habit
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Our NBA bubble awards: Crowning the small sample size winners

By Corey Rausch

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 06: Gary Trent Jr. #2 of the Portland Trail Blazers celebrates a three point basket against the Denver Nuggets with teammates Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers and Carmelo Anthony #00 of the Portland Trail Blazers during the second quarter at Visa Athletic Center at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 06, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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 Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 06: Gary Trent Jr. #2 of the Portland Trail Blazers celebrates a three point basket against the Denver Nuggets with teammates Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers and Carmelo Anthony #00 of the Portland Trail Blazers during the second quarter at Visa Athletic Center at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 06, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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 Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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NBA bubble (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
NBA bubble (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

All-Bubble Team

When three of the top four players in the bubble have been guards this is a tough distinction to make. There have been some masterful performances in the bubble. Given the difference between an eight-game sample and a full season it should come as no surprise that this team looks drastically different than a traditional All-NBA First Team. The toughest omissions were Kristaps Porzingis, Luka Doncic, James Harden, Anthony Davis, Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid.

Guard – Devin Booker

The debate for the bubble MVP ultimately came down to two guards so of course they were going to be the guards. Devin Booker played like an absolute star, and more importantly a leader. For a team that had little to play for coming into the bubble, they came out and won every game in front of them. The shot against the Clippers is the highlight but the numbers overall are stellar. Averaging 30.5 points, 6.0 assists and 4.9 rebounds. Even if this does not result in a playoff berth it is a huge step forward.

Guard – Damian Lillard

Like Booker, Damian Lillard has put on a tour de force of leadership. While CJ McCollum has dealt with issues with a broken back Lillard has put the team on his. He is on a scoring tear this season akin only to Wilt Chamberlin. This team is healthy again (except for McCollum, of course) and Lillard has them on the doorstep of making it back to the playoffs. For some of the players on this list, it is about a leap in a small sample size. This is who Lillard is and always has been.

Forward – TJ Warren

The case laid out before for Warren being the most improved player in the bubble is the same for him being on this team. He has been the offensive hub for a team in need of one as they are finding their way in the bubble. He has taken tough assignments on the defensive end of the floor as well. If it were not for the two guards in the West fighting for the final playoff spot Warren would have been the best story in the bubble. This was an easy choice.

Forward – Giannis Antetokounmpo

The presumptive (and defending) MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo may have not played a ton of minutes but the output is staggering. He averaged 27.8 points, 12.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 25.7 minutes per game. Read that again and try to understand that. He had a game with five blocks. He is the best player in the world in the regular season. Whether or not that carries forward to the later rounds of the postseason remains to be seen. But he has undoubtedly earned his spot on this list.

Center – Jusuf Nurkic

Easily the toughest decision of the list, Jusuf Nurkic is the final choice. In the running for the best defensive player in the bubble (averaging 7.4 defensive rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game), Nurkic has altered the course of the Blazers season nearly as much as Lillard has. He has been an absolute force of nature on both sides of the ball and have the Blazers looking like the kind of team that would be the middle of the playoff hunt, not on the bubble. He makes all the hustle plays and is averaging a solid 17.6 points per game.