Between the isolation, the separation from friends and family, the inability to escape from the game — or even the Disney campus — the challenges presented by the bubble were unprecedented.
But there was nothing normal about this season, either, with its condensed schedule, constant COVID-19 testing, games lost due to health and safety protocols, and of course the rash of injuries to players — especially All-Star players in these playoffs.
The news hit the team, and the NBA community, hard.
Perhaps it was all the experience LA has, playing without the oft-load managed or injured Leonard, who has missed 36 games in his two seasons with the team.
“We’ve been playing men down all season,” Jackson said.
It was an especially satisfying win for the oft-maligned George, who came out aggressively with 10 points in the first quarter, 22 in the first half and finished with 37 points on 12-of-22 shots.
George spoke very candidly last season about the ways the Bubble environment affected his mental health.
Mitchell was often seen wincing in pain Wednesday night in Game 5, as he struggled to find his usual explosiveness and finished with 21 points on 6-of-19 shooting.
“That’s what I’m learning right now,” Mitchell said after the game when asked about playing through injury.