One of the ESPN commentators gave a comment that as the days go by inside the bubble, the effect of being isolated from family and friends becomes more profound. Family members were allowed inside the bubble just recently however the effect on not being in your own home, doing the things that you want outside of basketball in your own time, seeing extended family and friends etc takes a toll on the players. Some of them might just mail in their performance so that they can go home (example: watch the final game of the Pelicans and witness the meaning of giving up). The Raptors won it all last year. They were rolling in the regular season however inside the bubble they are somewhat inconsistent in their effort. Perhaps its a case of having nothing to prove anymore and wanting to go home.
I was once assigned abroad and lived in a hotel for six straight months. 1 month pa lang I was longing to go home already. Iba yung malayo ka sa pamilya.
Majority of the NBA players are only in their 20's. They have all the toys that money can buy, luxurious homes, fast cars, hot girl friends etc etc. Who would want to be away from all of that?
Dito na siguro papasok yung pag instill ng mentality of having a single focus and team objective of winning from the management and coaching staff. Also, having an Alpha Dog leader like MJ, Kobe, CP3, LBJ or a Dame helps out tremendously in terms of Leadership and maintaining focus sa objective