NBA schedule takeaways: The Lakers will have flexibility
The Los Angeles Lakers will have flexibility heading into the playoffs. They are six games ahead of the 2nd seed in the Western Conference and won’t have to be looking over their shoulders when the restart begins. At the same rate, winning the top seed won’t hold the same weight as it did before the hiatus.
Unless the NBA figures out how to give homecourt advantage in the restart, the Lakers won’t have much to play for other than warming up before the playoffs. If they wanted, Los Angeles could slowly build-up the minutes to their main unit (such as LeBron James and Anthony Davis) or they could even ease them in playing every other game at the start.
The Lakers will have the upper hand in that respect. No matter how they elect to tackle the restart, they’ll have to prove to be flexible throughout the postseason. In fact, you can make the case that should be the goal for each team. And uncertainty should be expected once games begin again. I’m not sure if anyone knows what the restart will entail.