There are several reputations on the line in the NBA bubble in Orlando. Some of the top players in the league still need to prove that they can win in the postseason.
Let’s look at some of those that have some pressure to perform well.
The Beard
James Harden has been one of the best offensive players in the NBA for several years. However, he has still failed to do much in the NBA Playoffs. The question remains whether or not the Rockets’ playing style can win in the postseason.
Houston was able to make it past the Oklahoma City Thunder, but not by much. Harden actually sealed the win with a block, though he is not known for playing great on the defensive end.
If he shoots the ball the way he did against the Thunder, the Rockets will get swept in their Western Conference semifinals series against the Lakers. If that happens, Harden’s reputation for failing to win in the postseason will continue. He has to step up big for this team to win.
The Greek Freak
Giannis Antetokounmpo is a former MVP (and likely this year’s MVP) and one of the most talented players in the league. He might be the most physically dominant player in the playoffs.
But the Bucks are having trouble with the Heat. If they can’t make it to the conference finals, the Milwaukee reputation of not succeeding in the playoffs will continue to grow. They were dominant in the regular season in each of the past two seasons.
However, just like last year, they are having trouble in the playoffs. NBA analyst and former player Richard Jefferson recently compared Giannis to Scottie Pippen, meaning that he needs his Michael Jordan to lead him.
Giannis is not a player who can shoot the three at the end of the game or knock down free throws. The regular season is made up of games that are blowouts, and he doesn’t have to worry about clutch shots down the stretch.
It remains to be seen whether he can lead this Bucks team to a successful postseason run. He needs to step up his play against Miami if they want to stay alive.
King James
Whether or not the Lakers win this year, LeBron James will still keep his reputation as one of the best players to ever play the game. But he is going for GOAT status, and every championship gets him that much closer to Jordan.
This year, he has Anthony Davis, one of the most dominant big men in the NBA. They are talented enough to get it done, and LeBron knows that.
If he can pull off a fourth championship, taking three different franchises to the Finals, his status as a legend would continue to grow.
James will always have pressure to win until he decides to retire, so it will be neat to see how he performs for the remainder of the playoffs. So far, he still flirts with a triple-double almost every game.
With all of these players getting more competitive down the stretch, the NBA bubble postseason is heating up.
