OK.
Lakers play the Blazers for 7 games in a neutral court
Or for 4 games at Staples and 3 in Portland
Which scenario gives Portland the better chance to win the series?
The answer is plain and obvious. The Lakers odds of getting upset increase in every single series because they lost home court advantage.
On the flip side, the would be road team has improved odds.
So unequivocally, the bubble hurts the Lakers chances while simultaneously helping others.
Should they still win? Against everybody but LAC the answer is still yes. But they are definitely less likely to now because of the bubble.
Definitely not rocket science. And honestly not even sure this point is debatable.
If healthy all season, the Blazers would be right in the mix with the Lakers, Clippers, Bucks, etc. and it wouldn't be an upset for them to beat any of them.
A true 8 seed like the Grizzlies, aren't beating the Lakers, Clippers or Bucks anywhere.
In a 7 game series, the better team wins regardless of where the games are played. That's why the NBA uses 7 game series in all series. They want the best teams getting to the finals.
But yeah, go ahead with your "not even debatable" nonsense like that means you won something.