Clippers’ Paul George says ‘big difference’ being out of the bubble

LOS ANGELES — Last fateful postseason, the bubble proved anything but buoyant for Paul George, whose well-documented first-round struggles against the Dallas Mavericks were compounded by the suffocating nature of the enclosed NBA campus in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.

For most of the 2020 postseason, George – and all the participants in the basketball experiment – were far from their families and cut off from their support systems.

So when George went 4 for 17 from the field in Game 2, and then 3 for 16 in Game 3 and 3 for 14 in Game 4 – those off games were harder to shake off, the Clippers’ star acknowledged last year: “The bubble got the best of me,” George said after busting out for 35 points on 12-for-18 shooting in a 43-point victory in Game 5.

Bouncing back from a dissatisfying performance this season has been easier, George said before the Clippers began their first-round series rematch against the Mavericks – with a 113-103 loss – on Saturday.

“This year it’s been easier because I have outlets,” George said. “I’m able to live a normal life. I can go home, I can see my family, I can spend time with my family, I can interact with other people outside of this team. And so that alone has just been a big difference to be back to some normalcy. It’s a big difference from the bubble life to where I’m at now from a headspace standpoint.”

Clippers coach Tyronn Lue echoed his star’s sentiment, saying even the modified normalcy of this season has been easier on players than life in the bubble.

“The biggest thing is you’re able to be home with your family,” Lue said. “Guys are able to be with their family, their kids and enjoy that. It was tough not being able to go out the first part of the season at all, but I think guys did a great job of adjusting – at least you’re not away from your family, away from your friends. You can be around your loved ones.

“So I think that was a big help for our guys this year as well as across the league, just hearing guys talk.”

GETTING MORRIS GOING

Marcus Morris Sr. shot just 2 for 8 and 0 for 6 from 3-point range in Saturday’s series-opening loss.

That wasn’t a line becoming of Morris, who this season shot a career-best 47.3% from the field and behind the arc this season.

In addition to promising to get Morris more involved Tuesday, Lue noted that a bloody nose early in the game contributed to the veteran forward’s out-of-sync effort.

“I think with Marcus, when he got the bloody nose and had to come out of the game and kind of messed up his flow in the rotation, and kind of how we wanted to play,” Lue said. “… Marcus I don’t think ever got into a great offensive rhythm. He had some late (late in the) shot-clock shots that, better situations where he had to force them up, so we gotta get him in more of a rhythm.”

PORZINGIS FINED $50,000

The NBA fined Dallas’ star center/power forward Kristaps Porzingis $50,000 for violating the rule prohibiting players from going into bars, clubs, lounges or similar establishments, the league office announced Tuesday. Porzingis attended a club on Sunday.

The 7-foot-3 Latvian – who is fully vaccinated – won’t miss any games, the league said.

“In consultation with medical experts, and based on all facts and circumstances, it was determined that his attendance did not create risks related to the spread of COVID-19 and therefore no quarantine is necessary,” the NBA’s statement read.

Lue said the Clippers – one of only three NBA teams that didn’t have a game rescheduled on account of coronavirus health and safety protocols – will remain diligent in their efforts to adhere to the league’s guidelines.

“Like we have all year, just trying to be solid,” he said. “Doing our best to try to follow protocol because we know it’s important, and at this stage of the season, you can’t have any letdowns like that. We want to make sure we’re doing the best we can to try to make sure we avoid any kind of situations.”