Damian Lillard, star of the Portland Trail Blazers, recently discussed the upcoming NBA “bubble” playoffs. He provided an unusual take on the criticism the ultimate champion Los Angeles Lakers received.

The Lakers’ title means something to me. You gotta look at it like this, why don’t it count? No one else was a winner. Why didn’t anyone else who had a shot at it win it instead? Lillard said on the expletive-filled “Back on Figg” podcast.

Lillard elaborated on his earlier comments by pointing out the upsides of playing in the bubble and how it helped level the playing field for all players.

We will never witness a more revitalized version of the opposition than we did at that time, based on how my body felt and what I knew or had experienced.

Lillard is right, but only up to a point. Two months off allowed players on all teams to relax and heal from injuries sustained during the season’s suspension and subsequent restart in the bubble.

Furthermore, there was no need for extensive travel because all the teams were based in and played at the same place. Since all three basketball games took place at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Center in the resort, there was no such thing as a “home court” advantage.

With “players going for 58” in the playoffs, “players might lose that bаttle to being tired, getting in late, and sleepy,” Lillard said.

The Lakers had the top seed into the playoffs, but they were forced to play in the same half-empty arenas as their competitors rather than in front of their home crowd at Staples Center (now Crypto.com Arena).

Nonetheless, the Lakers powered through the playoffs and eliminated Lillard’s Trail Blazers, the Houston Rockets, and the Denver Nuggets in six games to win the franchise’s 17th title and James’ fourth of his career.