tamaraw08 wrote:zuju wrote:Pythagoras wrote:
These wins are great on multiple levels.
Obviously, the wins are moving the Lakers up in the standings, but these wins also take pressure off Lebron to feel like he needs to rush back to help the team sneak into the play-in. He can take his time, and try to get as right as possible.
Additionally, a win like this takes the pressure off of AD. With D'Lo back, he now doesn't have to feel like he has to be perfect on a nightly basis just for the team to gut out a win.
Best of all these wins build up momentum and confidence. If the Lakers win their next 3 (very good chance IMO), they're going to head into the Dallas game with a ton of confidence.
I think a 40-37 or 41-36 record entering April is VERY doable.
Very much agreed with all your points. minus the expectations.
They better not expecting highly on themselves. They need the sense of urgency until they lock in to playoff spot. Play with sense of urgency, intensity and energy is all they need now.
With Dlo back, you can withhold AD's minutes on the court a bit to around 30 mins/game to save some legs. Other than that, energy and sense of urgency. Losing 1 or 2 games may mean falling out of the play-in spots in the West.
Perfect scenario is they get 6th spot and avoid the risk of losing in the play-in tourney but to get there I think they need to ride AD hard and play him for most of the remaining games. But the risk of course is Davis getting injured.
But if they sit him for 3 plus games, who will cover the opposing centers with Bamba out, Rui, Vando who are 6-8?
Well, if AD gets injured the season is over no matter what, and we can only win it all if he’s in prime game shape so we might as well play him 32 mpg until the playoffs, just not much more.
And yes, I think the sixth spot was what LBJ referred to when he said these 23 games were his most important regular season games ever. That was the goal. 17-6 was believed to be enough. I’d guess 18-5 would do it but 15-8 is again my guess.