Home Court Advantage this particular Season... how much is it worth?

Jordan-esque · Franchise Player Joined: 19 Aug 2005 Posts: 10265

We have witnessed LeBron average 44 mins in 3 OT games against Lottery teams to squeak by a win.

We have seen Lakers play AD who was still recovering from “Achilles tendonosis”... similar to what Durant started with in 2019: https://www.rehabandrevive.com/post-1/golden-state-warrior-s-kevin-durant-and-the-development-of-achilles-tears

With AD now out, guess how much more load and how much more mins will LeBron be playing?

How much is this all worth it?
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Nash Vegas · Star Player Joined: 01 Sep 2012 Posts: 7239

Clippers hate to say it, are doing it right.

They’re letting PG take his time to heal, and they still let Kawhi load manage against lottery teams like they did tonight and still win.

Who the (bleep) needs home court during Covid?
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SPO200 · Star Player Joined: 28 Jun 2018 Posts: 1458

Not worth at all. Let AD rest 1 month (no All Star of course) and start load managing LeBron.

slavavov · Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2021 4:17 am Post subject:

Even if there's still no fans in the stands this spring and summer, home court means our guys can sleep in their own beds, play games at Staples in front of a shooting background they're comfortable with, have the same pregame routine, not have to play in the altitude of Denver or Utah, spend quality time with their family/wife/baby mamas. These things matter more than we think they do.

Plus, you don't want to have a tough first-round opponent and make things harder on yourselves.

I'm so sick of Lakers fans who say crap like "forget the regular season, let's just get the 8th seed and rest LeBron and AD until the playoffs start." That's a loser's mentality in any area of life.

Of course, if LeBron or AD are actually injured and must miss games, you sit them out until they're 100%. But when they're 100%, you don't sit them out for "load management."
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Clark Kent · Star Player Joined: 10 Nov 2007 Posts: 1999

Looks like there’s not going to be much of a home court if Davis is going to be out for a while.
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Four Decade Bandwagon · Star Player Joined: 18 Jul 2014 Posts: 8150

Several thoughts.

We need to wait until we have a definitive answer on how bad the Davis injury is and how long he will be out. Too soon to make statements or set goals until we do.

Home Court may look entirely different in 4 months. Already seeing increased numbers allowed in the stands. Even 25% capacity of HCA can help team’s emotionally.

At the moment it looks like travel and games in other teams gyms will be allowed instead of a bubble. It matters.

No Laker should be participating in the ASG. Too much riding on this season to be part of a meaningless exhibition game.

Time for other players to step up. Time for the Lakers to run plays other then to rely solely on James. Time to step up the defensive effort from the first min to the last. So far the team has faced limited adversity. Davis being out any significant time may be the first round of it.

Lakers cannot rely on James to increase his load. Others have to do it. At times without James. We are about to find out a lot about our team.

Nash Vegas · Star Player Joined: 01 Sep 2012 Posts: 7239

mad55557777 · Franchise Player Joined: 29 Jun 2005 Posts: 23128

mad55557777 · Franchise Player Joined: 29 Jun 2005 Posts: 23128

Certainly don’t want anything lower than 6th seed as that will face the play in.

LakerSD · Franchise Player Joined: 10 Nov 2016 Posts: 23778

Stay in the top 4 and all is good.

They should honestly still be able to stay in the top 4. Look what Portland is doing with just Dame and supporting cast.

Lakers deep roster needs to step it up. Only Harrell has really been consistent and Kuzma in this last stretch of games. Stop relying on Lebron to erase huge deficits.

If a 36 year old is showing up, the guys 10 years younger need to (bleep) show up and be ready from tip.

lakersboy · Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2021 4:48 pm Post subject:

It'll matter in high altitude of Denver and Utah. It can be overcome.

I'd go above and beyond Dr's and sit AD at least 2 months, to allow proper healing.

gng930 · Franchise Player Joined: 13 Apr 2001 Posts: 11475

In the West, I'd say there's 3 other tier-1 teams between LAC, Utah, and Denver. Even as a 1-seed you'd need to play two of them on the way to the Finals. I'm less worried about HCA, especially against the Clippers.

The 6th seed and any team lower potentially has to play all three of then. 7th and 8th also have to deal with the play-in tournament. I'd find a way to maximize rest/recovery for AD without slipping below the 5th seed.

The tier-2 teams would include Phoenix, Portland, and Dallas IMO. We need to outperform at least two of them. Portland is dealing with injury issues too and Dallas has a lot of catching up to do on their own.
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Jordan-esque · Franchise Player Joined: 19 Aug 2005 Posts: 10265

Dropping...
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Four Decade Bandwagon · Star Player Joined: 18 Jul 2014 Posts: 8150