Phil Jackson: Should Los Angeles Lakers Coach Push All-In To Gain Home Court?
As of late, the reigning NBA champs haven't been playing up to par. The embarrassing loss to the Heat on Christmas Day just adds onto the fact that the Lakers aren't where they're supposed to be. Looking ahead towards the bigger picture, which is of course the NBA Finals, should be the Lakers' mindset as of now.
Though the NBA may be down right now, the number of elite teams have risen and for the Lakers, that only means more competition for better or for worse, usually ending up for the worse.
The good news for the Lakers is that, with more competition in the East, there is naturally more trouble between the Magic, Heat and Celtics; meaning that all three teams will have to deal with each other all season and throughout the playoffs, which could result in a very tired Heat, Celtic or Magic team come the NBA Finals.
One of the most important aspects of the NBA Finals is the advantage of home court, and for an already bruised up Lakers team, home court may be a greater relief for veterans such as Kobe Bryant, Derek Fisher, Pau Gasol, and Lamar Odom.
Considering it is only nearing the middle of the season, worrying about home court advantage may be a little too cautious, but the question still holds: Is home court advantage important in Order to three-peat?
I will be list the top-five most important reasons why Phil Jackson and the Lakers should push in 100 percent to gain home court advantage. Hope you enjoy!
No. 5: Fatigue
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Considering the Lakers are a veteran-based team, players like Kobe, Lamar, Gasol and Fisher will be tired by the end of the season heading into the playoffs.
It is a problem that most teams have when their superstars are at the stage in their careers when fatigue is a valid reality.
As a Laker fan myself, it is sad to say, but Kobe just doesn't have the same stamina as he used to.
For that reason, having home court advantage come playoff time will be very important for a somewhat old team.
No. 4: Avoid Hostile Environments
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Kobe and Gasol have already experienced what happens when a team doesn't have home court advantage, when they lost their arch rival, the Boston Celtics, in the 2008-2009 NBA Finals.
This slide isn't assuming that the Celtics are going to make the finals, but it is saying that either the Heat, Magic or Celtics will.
Though this Lakers team has a solid bench, unlike in 2008-2009, and is more experienced than the 2008-2009 team, nothing is guaranteed until a team heads into a hostile environment such as the TD Garden, Amway Center or American Airlines Arena.
The last thing the Lakers want to experience is another unexpected surprise on the opponent's home floor.
No. 3: The Spurs Are For Real
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The Lakers can dream and prepare all they want for the Heat, Magic and Celtics, but the Lakers first have to face off against the best in the Wes, and so far that has been the surprise of the season, San Antonio Spurs.
Having watched Tim Duncan and Coach Popovich get by in the regular season almost every year and then flip the switch in the playoffs, the early start for the Spurs has to have posed a new problem for Coach Jackson and the Lakers as to whether or not they continue to have success later on in the season.
For now, the main goal for the Lakers should be to pick up the slack quick and to win every matchup between the Spurs, because they are obviously looking like the biggest threat to the Lakers in the West. The last thing the Lakers want to face is a dangerous Spurs team that still has something left in the tank.
No. 2: Home Court Advantage Only Makes the Lakers More Dangerous
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Let's not forget how good the Lakers are, despite their recent performances. They are the reigning NBA Champs and they still have arguably the best duo in the league with Kobe and Gasol.
Whether or not the Lakers get home court advantage or not, they are still a great team, but on the other hand, a Lakers team with home court advantage and one without, will obviously have a difference.
Even the Lakers need a little luck and help to win another title, and a home court floor will be able to provide a little more spark.
No. 1: Who Knows How Much Kobe and Phil Have Left?
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This may come out to be a little too dramatic, but who knows how much longer Coach Jackson and Kobe will be together and if they are, how many more championship runs could they put together?
Next year there is a strong possibility that the NBA will have a lockout, and if that happens, I don't honestly see Coach Jackson coming back for another year, even if the Lakers three-peat.
For Kobe, a lockout may pose to be a problem, or it may be a huge positive, but there is no way to know now, and that is why the Lakers need to push all-in for this season.
Like I said before, this may be dramatic, but a lot of things could change for the Lakers, for better or for worse.
Having said that, why not push all-in when you still have all of the pieces to win another title? I mean you never know what you got until it's gone, right?
