Ricky Rubio's Phoenix Suns entered the NBA bubble as filler. They had remote chances of making the playoffs, less than 1% according to projections, but it took teams to make the bulk and save a handful more games. Two weeks later, they are the only team that remains undefeated at Disney (7-0 after beating Philadelphia 117-130) and will reach the last game fully involved in the fight for the playoffs.

The Phoenix Suns hadn't had seven straight wins in a decade, when Steve Nash and Amar'e Stoudemire were still the stars. There the recent history of a franchise can be summarized that since then has only been relevant for putting goats in an office of its general manager. In English 'goat' is the acronym for 'the best of all time' ('GOAT', Greatest Of All Time) and it was the form of the owner, Robert Sarver (also co-owner of the Phoenix Mercury and RCD Mallorca) of telling him that he had to find a Diana Taurasi.

The suit is great for Devin Booker (very few would bear a comparison with Taurasi), but he is one of the players with the most projection in the NBA. The shooting guard soon broke the label of fine marksman and this year he has evolved to leave behind the great scorer poster (he scored 70 points with 20 years). Booker has also grown as a creator of the game, a facet that was not included in the plans, without forgetting his work as a 'killer'. In the victory against the Clippers, the most surprising of the seven, he sentenced with one of the great baskets of the 'bubble'.

The situation is not new for Ricky Rubio . The Masnou base has already shared the creation tasks in Utah with Donovan Mitchell , and from that role of 'deputy director' he brings clarity to a very young team (he is the only one who passes 24 years in the starting five). After another good performance against the Sixers (16 points, 5 rebounds, 10 assists), Ricky is averaging 13.7 points (43.5% from 3s, 47.1% true shooting percentage), 5.3 rebounds and 7.3 assists in the seven wins.

Rubio is also part of the first line of defense, a section in which the Suns are showing surprising improvement. Mikal Bridges stands out there, one of the great surprises of the 'bubble'. But also the improvement of DeAndre Ayton, the number one in the 2018 draft (although it was not difficult, to be honest) or the contribution of surprise secondary players like Jevon Carter or Cameron Payne.

The Suns are the only undefeated team at Disney World, the only ones in the Top 5 for most efficient attacks (4th) and defenses (3rd) in Orlando, and they go into the final game with options to get into the duel for eighth place of the playoffs. They do not depend on themselves, but it is already a lot more than what entered the pools.

Lillard, to the rhythm of Chamberlain

When the NBA voted on its plans to resume the season, Portland was the only team of the 30 to vote against it. The Blazers didn't want to go to Orlando to make a big deal. After an injury-plagued season, they were bringing back their starting inside game - Jusuf Nurkic and Zach Collins - for this final stretch. All they asked for was a real chance, even if it was minimal, to fight for the playoffs. They would take care of the rest. Damian Lillard would take care of it.

After missing two key free throws against the Clippers - and which cost him the derision of the Angelenos - the Blazers point guard has responded as only one of the best scorers of this time can do: 51 points against Philadelphia and 61 against the Dallas Mavericks. Along with Wilt Chamberlain , he is already the only player in history to have broken the 60-point barrier three times in the same season.

"Respect my fucking game!" He yelled against the Mavs, in case anyone doubted he had the taunts he endured after his mistakes against the Clippers. Carmelo Anthony , who has finally agreed to adapt his game to the 21st century, continues his particular resurrection and contributed 26 points and 8 rebounds. Between them they brought the Blazers out of a shootout down the stretch before CJ McCollum decided from the free throw line.

Luka Doncic , who returned after missing the game against the Sixers with ankle discomfort, had 25 points, 8 rebounds and 10 assists. The Mavs can only be seventh now and their first-round playoff rival will come out between the Clippers and the Nuggets. The Blazers are already eighth and, as Lillard wanted, they depend on themselves to get into the play-in for the last ticket.

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