Shut them down?

[Dr Aki]

The loss against portland basically spells the end of the race for HCA against cleveland

there really isn't much chance cleveland lose 2 of their remaining 3 games, that is unless boston beat cleveland in cleveland, which again puts LA back within 1 game with 3 or so hours for PJ and the coaching staff to decide whether they want to keep chasing HCA or shut kobe/gasol/fish down.

regardless, if boston dont win, it spells the end for HCA AND lakers achieve HCA over boston regardless of what happens, i wouldnt be holding out for an upset in indianapolis on April 15th.

im inclined to shut kobe, gasol and fish down for the remaining 2 games just to give them some R&R heading into the first round. another potential side-effect of shutting them down is it gifts a April 14th game to the Jazz, allowing the Lakers to face the Mavs in the first round instead of the Jazz. But this is my opinion

[Sedale Threatt]

Shut down as in completely bench? No, I wouldn't do that. You still need to maintain some sort of rhythm. But drastically reduce minutes? Most definitely. No need to run anybody out for 40-plus minutes over the next two games with nothing to play for. Let the starters get a lather up, work on a few things, then give them some nice long rests.

[kevin_405]

More PT for Shanon brown thats for sure..

I hope we can resign this guy in the summer..

[That Nicka]

naw.. but only 35-36 min for Kobe and Pau... around 30 for Fish... Its highly unlikely cleveland loses 2 of 3 but stranger things have happened

[Dr Aki]

but its only 2 games...

not like its a 3/4/5 game shut down and coming back rusty or simulating any length of injury

especially kobe and pau who have pretty much been playing nonstop for the past 18 months

[BallAboveAll]

Cut down on minutes but I'd like us to win our final two games.

[iamworthy]

I would play Kobe and Gasol about 25-30 minutes, D-Fish around 20 minutes. Let the other guys get some time on the floor. At this point Playing anyone over those amounts of minutes is useless.

[Jajwanda]

You have to play Kobe and Gasol for 25-30 mpg to keep them ready for the playoffs. Don't ever shut down your starting roster, but as MUCH AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE get Shannon Brown run.

[LA Warrior]

i say drastic cut in minutes but enough to win these last two games (espiacally utah). i dont like losing going into the playoffs.

[rand0m]

Utah has the tiebreaker with Dallas? So whether we win the last game could possibly choose our 1st round opponent? Utah now, or possibly WCF?

[snaquille oatmeal]

have faith in Boston and Indiana.

[kobeaki]

I would play Kobe and Gasol about 25-30 minutes, D-Fish around 20 minutes. Let the other guys get some time on the floor. At this point Playing anyone over those amounts of minutes is useless.

if it were me id say they play first and third quarters or first and fourth only...plus our bench needs the flight time...a win-win , i think...

[Flipdog69xxx]

lol with cleveland clinching the east i have a gut feeling that boston with throw that game on sunday just to help stop our chances at HCA throughout.

/conspiracy rant.

[The Laker Kid]

Don't shut them down yet.. restart yes, shut down, no.

Cleveland can still lose twice and we can still win twice and get the home court advantage (HCA).

[AceFresh]

Reduce mins now

[rand0m]

have faith in Boston and Indiana.

Without KG? And a team that has nothing to play for? I just don't see the cavs letting more than 1 go if any. The bench needs some playing time as much as the starters need a little rest.

[KObe Bryant]

Yes, I still want the HCA throughout the Playoffs but I don't think we could still be able to reach the Cavs. I can see Fisher being tired and struggle in the last 2 games. And not only Fish, I also observe Gasol sometimes being tired. For the next 2 games, We should get that early leads and blow them out to minimize our Starters' minutes and let DJ and the rest of the bench play in the late 3rd and the whole 4th. They just have to slow it down and not letting teams to get back in the game. Unlike the Clipper game. I still want to finish the season with 65-17 record. Don't want the Celtics to reach us, because I still think of them coming out of the east.

[Mamba Venom]

Limited mins for sure like 24 for starters

But the Lakers don't shut down starters

[rand0m]

Don't want the Celtics to reach us, because I still think of them coming out of the east.

We were already guaranteed HCA versus everyone except the Cavs even before today's game because of the tiebreaker. Hopefully Phil really limits the starters today and tuesday. Nothing good can come out of working out starters for 30+ minutes. If anything, bench experience versus the Jazz could be valuable if we face them in the postseason.

[Jajwanda]

Any experience for the starting unit and Shannon Brown would be ideal as well. Give him extended minutes so that you can make a decision on him entirely as far as your future starting PG, backup PG, or not even that.