Less than one week separates basketball fans from the resumption of play in Orlando. Make no mistake about it, business is picking up in the NBA.

Exhibitions and scrimmages have begun, with the Saturday afternoon slate offering a handful of different matchups.

All 22 teams have had quite the long layoff, but there are signs the top contenders are in good form. Stars like Anthony Davis and James Harden showed out in exhibitions, granted they are just a precursor to the real deal.

In any case, fans have had the opportunity to gauge a little bit about what to expect from the “bubble.”

Here are some of the things we have learned from the first couple weeks of the bubble, starting with the most important component.

Testing is (knock on wood) going smoothly

Remember the weeks before the bubble, when Orange County, Florida looked like a new hotbed for COVID-19? It seemed to endanger the restart, especially given players showed concern with respect to health and safety protocols.

However, there are very encouraging numbers coming out of Orlando. The most obvious is the fact zero out of 346 players tested positive in results announced earlier this week.

The NBA's self-quarantine procedure for anyone with prior exposure to COVID-19 (like Russell Westbrook) has been a sound one, and certainly protective of the players.

In fact, players themselves have taken a pretty concerted interest in preserving their health. The only discouraging element was Dwight Howard's comments about wearing a mask and his ridiculous statement about the spread of COVID-19.

That said, mostly everyone in the “bubble” appears to be taking the necessary precautions. Hopefully they will continue to look out for one another's health and safety.

The emphasis on social justice

Aside from the health component, players had previously voiced concerns the restart would be a distraction from important conversations about social justice.

But they are making sure to redirect to these conversations.

Denver Nuggets forward Jerami Grant dedicated his entire media session on July 15 to discuss the death of Breonna Taylor and matters of police brutality. Players around the league have followed Grant's example.

Philadelphia 76ers swingman Tobias Harris and Portland Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum called for Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron to take action against the police officers involved in Taylor's death.

Los Angeles Clippers star Paul George deflected questions about the condition of his shoulder to speak about Taylor. Lakers swingman Kyle Kuzma has done the same on Twitter, also imploring members of the media to ask the players questions regarding social justice issues.

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LeBron James wrote Taylor's name on his sneakers prior to Thursday's exhibition against the Dallas Mavericks.

James also commented on being Black in America after the game (via TMZ):

“When you're Black, it's not a movement,” James said. “It's a lifestyle. We sit here and say it's a movement, and, okay … how long is this movement going to last?”
“‘Don't stop the movement.' … No, this is a walk of life. When you wake up and you're Black, that is what it is.”
“It shouldn't be a movement. It should be a lifestyle. This is who we are.”
Fans and players alike are certainly enjoying live basketball again.But the players are making their voices heard loud and clear when it comes to social justice issues and the search for equality. That message has been impossible to ignore.

Teams are experimenting

The very first exhibition between the Denver Nuggets and Washington Wizards was truly a sight to behold.

Denver went with an all-big man starting lineup, with Nikola Jokic running the point and second-round draft pick Bol Bol making his debut. The ultra-large lineup was scintillating to watch.

Jokic has already established himself as one of the best passing bigs in years, and he looked more nimble and ready to get out in transition after dropping so much weight during the hiatus.

Meanwhile, Bol's skill set seemed to make him the perfect complement to Jokic, who hunts long outlet passes.

The former Oregon product sprinted down the floor after rebounds, looking to establish position on the wing or in the post. Bol showed a certain comfort level playing on the perimeter and even handling the ball, and his length was a natural deterrent around the rim.

https://twitter.com/LegionHoops/status/1286024810116427777

Bol is unlikely to play in the restart, but everything about the game suggested the Nuggets might be operating at a faster pace when play begins.

Meanwhile, the Philadelphia 76ers generally looked more aggressive during their matchup with the Memphis Grizzlies.

Ben Simmons showed little hesitation firing three-pointers.

Sixers swingman Matisse Thybulle–normally renowned for his defensive work rate–consistently looked for driving lanes and took the ball to the cup.

Of course, it makes perfect sense teams and players are getting feelers out before the real action begins.

But again, everyone is on a level playing field in terms of the time off. Teams and individual players might look like different versions once the games start.

The stars are ready

If you watched Thursday's game between the Lakers and Mavericks, you no doubt recognized James' energy throughout the contest.

It might have been an exhibition, but LeBron seemed to control the game on both ends of the floor. Does this look familiar?

Aside from LeBron, AD and Luke Doncic traded buckets from the beginning, with Davis showcasing a devastating barrage of midrange jumpers and Doncic getting to the rim and stepping back for long threes.

Rockets guard James Harden was in a bit of a slump prior to the suspension of play in March. But he looked just fine on Friday.

Harden scored 24 points and had 10 assists in the first 25 minutes of the team's game against the Toronto Raptors.

“The Beard” was another guy who appeared to experience a change in physique during all the time off. The scoring abilities, however, have not gone anywhere.

It will be interesting to see whether Harden retains this assertiveness once Westbrook is cleared for action. But he, too, seems amped up and ready to go.

There were questions about the quality of play once the restart began. However, if these exhibitions are any indication, fans are in for a real treat next week.