The goal with every NBA season is to win a championship, or make progress toward one in the future. Truth is, there are a couple teams with realistic chances and nothing more.
This season, however, could be different. With COVID-19 causing a four-month interruption to the schedule, the landscape isn’t the same. There’s the “bubble” in Orlando. There’s no home-court advantage. There are key players opting out such as Victor Oladipo of the Indiana Pacers and Bradley Beal of the Washington Wizards.
Then there’s the issue of focus.
Social justice is taking a front seat. An outbreak could put a team’s best players out of commission. Injuries could be rampant after such a layoff. Games early could look disjointed like the NBA regular season in October and November.
"Going out there is a big platform to push what we really want to push," said Aaron Holiday, the Pacers' second-year guard who will have a bigger backcourt role with the absence of Oladipo. "Everybody is going to be watching NBA basketball when it comes back. We can write stuff on our shoes, on our jerseys. There's a lot we can do to push this movement forward."
The Pacers play their first exhibition July 23 vs. Portland. They'll have two more until their regular season restarts Aug. 1 vs. Philadelphia. The playoffs commence after eight games.
This isn't a typical postseason, obviously.
Aaron's brother and teammate, Justin Holiday, considered not playing because of the social unrest triggered by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. In the weeks leading up to deciding whether or not he was in, he began leaning toward playing. Fully healthy, he felt he owed it to his teammates but acknowledged he had been conflicted because of his upcoming free agency.
The Pacers leave this week for the "bubble" where they'll quarantine before getting to play 5-on-5 for the first time since March.
When the games begin, Justin Holiday believes everything will get easier. It might take time.
Competition is competition.
"The main reason we're playing is because dudes want to win. If you get on that floor, regardless of what you're thinking before you get to that game, and someone hits you in the mouth you're not going to back down," Justin Holiday said. "It's going to be competitive. It's just going to be weird not having fans."
Along with Malcolm Brogdon, Myles Turner is one of the players for the Pacers at the forefront of the franchise's messaging on social justice. Brogdon has been in quarantine for two weeks after contracting novel coronavirus.
There's no way of knowing how players will respond to the culture shock. What they'll experience at Disney Wide World of Sports can't compare to any previous experience. This has never been done.
"I don't think it's going to hit anybody until we're actually there are and living it and get a couple weeks under our belt," Turner said. "People have already slotted certain teams to win this thing. It's not going to be that easy.
"You're separated from the world. We're used to traveling. We're used to playing in front of big crowds. Not playing in front of anybody is another hurdle you're going to have to get over. It's going to be a mental grind more than anything."
Players will be out of their comfort zone. Justin Holiday has never been comfortable about speaking up. The usually low-key Turner hasn't been much for it either.
It's a new day for them. On and off.
"We're all young athletes advocating for certain things. It's going to take a lot of unity," Turner said about the 22 teams competing. "For us (the Pacers), I'm not worried. As an NBA brotherhood, it's going to be bigger than basketball. We're going to have to able to have open dialogue and discussion about outside of basketball."
The tone of the games will change for another reason as well. The things said among players aren't audible to most of viewers or spectators inside an arena. A lot of not-safe-for-TV language is spoken. Coaches who sound polished and professional in postgame interviews will be unfiltered.
Broadcasting with a delay probably will be required.
"I think it's going to be hilarious. There might be more techs than usual because the refs are probably going to be able to hear everything," Justin Holiday said. "It's going to be intense. You won't know until you get there. I don't see why dudes wouldn't get out there and compete."
Follow IndyStar Pacers Insider J. Michael on Twitter at @ThisIsJMichael.
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