Must Win Game 4? Or Need Practice/Experience?

[shobe_81]

Is it a "must win" game 4 mentality for the Lakers to use or do you think they need another 7 game series to better prepare for the Finals?

The NBA Finals start on June 4th.

If Lakers can win game 4 and then close out the series at Home in game 5, then the Lakers will have a FULL Week rest before the Finals.

If the series goes 7 games and Lakers win, the Lakers would get only 3 days of rest.

Pau and Kobe have logged huge minutes throughout the season and the playoffs.

A 5 game series means good week worth rest; a 7 game series means a tough fought out battle to the end but less rest.

On one hand Lakers need the rest, on the other, Lakers for some reason come out and play sloppy after a good rest.

So is it imperative for the Lakers to close this series out in 5 rather than have it possibly go 7 games.

[A-Train]

I wouldn't say its A must.. but it will be nice to have that win..

we have home court back. thats good.

i agree with resting..but too much can get you out of rhythm

[DEEP3CL]

Whenever you can close out a series you do it weather it be in 4,5 or 6. As dramatic and exciting Game 7's are....they're risk games, you never know what can happen. Experience at this point is over blown.

But also let's not talk Finals yet...cause we're not there yet, still too much left to do in this series.

[shobe_81]

I know deep, I'm not giving any pre judging conclusions to the series, all I'm wondering is what the consensus is as to closing out a series in 5 for a good rest rather than a 7 game to build and grow the intangibles.

[Tekkenlaw]

Definitely a must win. If nuggets win then series is essentially 0-0 and best 2 out of 3. If Lakers win then the series is over.

[dockingsched]

go ahead and talk about this in the game thread since its essentially the same topic and verbal called the game thread.