Can the Lakers catch up to Dallas or San Antonio in the Western Conference standings?
For a while, the Lakers looked up at the Western Conference standings, noticed they weren't at the top and proclaimed it wasn't a big deal.
The Lakers have longly touted the benefits of having home-court advantage knowing they haven't won a series the past three seasons without it. But with the San Antonio Spurs having a large stakehold in the West this season, the defending champions maintained two arguments on why it wasn't much of a concern. They remained convinced it was too early in the season to get caught up in standings races. They also argued home-court advantage can be a deceiving luxury considering it's likely necessary securing road wins would be needed anyway.
Forget the Lakers' pre-season proclamation that they needed to finish the top of the West, aware that losing home-court advantage would only exacerbate challenges, ranging from fatigue, age, injuries and the never-ending pressure in defending back-to-back titles. It's more important, they argue, that they stay healthy and peak in their play just as the playoffs begin.
The Lakers, however, at least conceded the standings race begins to matter in March, meaning their outlook on their place behind San Antonio and Dallas changes a little bit. The Spurs (50-11) hold a 7 1/2 game lead over the Lakers (43-19), but that's not the only team leading the defending champions. The Dallas Mavericks (44-16) own a two-game advantage over the Lakers after reeling a seven-game winning streak. That's why it's a no brainer the Lakers view their four-game trip as more important than others, considering it begins Sunday with San Antonio, ends Saturday with Dallas and also features a game Thursday against Miami, whom the Lakers remember very well brought their talents from South Beach to Staples Center on Christmas Day and made it appear the hype was justified after all.
"This trip is really like a make or break point of the season for us," Jackson said. "If we play really well on this road trip, we have a chance to do things. If we don't, we'll have to settle in and assume we're fighting either for second or third place, hopefully."
Surely, the Lakers performance on this trip affects whether the Lakers manage to close the gap in the Western Conference standings or allow the Spurs and/or Mavericks simply to widen the cushion. Whether the Lakers will be able to catch up to either of them entirely once the regular season ends remains another issue. So far, a few things have worked in the Lakers' favor. The Lakers have gone 6-0 since the All-Star break. They've exhibited defensive consistency, holding teams to 87.6 points per game since the All-Star break. And Lakers center Andrew Bynum has averaged 10.66 rebounds and three blocks during that stretch, an effort that Jackson argues speaks to him "being more live and that his activity level is higher" in addition of course to his size and length. Add all those ingredients together and the Lakers in the eyes that Dallas forward Dirk Nowitzki argues are still "the team to beat.", perhaps aware that the Dallas' regular-season success has still resulted in first round exits in three of the past four seasons.
But that won't completely propel the Lakers from jumping from the third seed to the top spot in the Western Conference. The Lakers being the Lakers have shown a pattern of inconsistent performances all season. It was after all only two weeks ago that the Lakers ended a 4-0 start on a seven-game trip featuring a signature win over Boston with a three-game losing streak, including double-digit losses to the Charlotte Bobcats and the Cleveland Cavaliers. There's also the case of San Antonio and Dallas maintaining pace as well. The Spurs recently suggested guard Tony Parker would miss between two to four weeks because of a strained left calf, but he started in San Antonio's 125-95 victory Friday over Miami after sitting out only two games. Meanwhile, the Dallas Mavericks have won seven consecutive games and have shown little sign of slowing down. As Dallas guard Jason Terry said about the Lakers, "We’re not even worried about them. They’re behind us. We got our sights set straight ahead."
The Lakers, meanwhile, insist they can't worry about what they can't control.
"We can't be thinking about the other guys," Lakers forward Pau Gasol said. "As long as we do well and we win and we are focused and giving ourselves a good chance every night, we'll have a chance to pass a team or two. If not, it doesn't matter what they do. We have to worry about what's in our hands and in front of us."
"I think it's more important to playing well because they can win out," Lakers forward Lamar Odom added. You can't catch them. Just playing well is the most important and playing to our ability and how we want to play basketball. You can't worry about other teams and saying, 'I hope they lose games so we can move up.' You want to win games just in case we meet them anywhere to play basketball that we'll be ready."
That hasn't stopped Jackson from watching how San Antonio and Dallas fare in the standings, however. It also hasn't stopped him from monitoring Boston (45-18), Chicago (42-18) and Miami (43-19) considering a Finals matchup could have home-court implications as well. And then there's Odom's admission that he places more stock in their games against Dallas and San Antonio because they would likely have to go through them first in the Western Conference.
The significance of the Lakers' upcoming trip can't be overstated enough because of those big-picture implications. Even if they can't really control how San Antonio and Dallas finish out, though the Lakers surely need to win their head-to-head matchups with the Spurs (Sunday, April 12) and the Mavericks (March 12, March 31). Also, the Lakers' schedule becomes somewhat easier afterwards. Though the Lakers' 19 remaining games feature 12 playoffs opponents, 11 of those contests occur in Staples Center, including seven consecutive home games after the Lakers' four-game trip.
Whether or not that will be enough for the Lakers to catch up in the standings remain to be seen.The Lakers have also debated back and forth if this standings chase even matters. Regardless of where they stand, they're well aware of the challenging task they face in keeping up with San Antonio and Dallas.
"We really want to win these games," Bynum said. "Not just for the standings, but to send a message and let everybody know we're here and we're serious."
--Mark Medina
E-mail the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com
Photo: San Antonio forward Antonio McDyess, right, gets past Lakers guard Kobe Bryant and scores the winning basket on a tip-in at the buzzer, lifting the Spurs to an 89-88 victory over the Lakers on Feb. 3 at Staples Center. Credit: Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times
Photo: Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, left, takes a shot as Dallas center Tyson Chandler tries to stop him during the Lakers' 109-100 loss Jan. 19. Credit: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images.
Back in Chicago, watching the Bulls. 4 real. They're gonna be somebody's Eastern conference nightmare in the playoffs.
Also nice to experience good ol' Midwest Miami Heat hatred which apparently runs throughout this great land of ours.
Posted by: VMan | March 05, 2011 at 11:00 AM
Phil said it, this trip defines expectations. Tomorrow's the big one.
The San Antonio vets know it's winnin' time.
The road to June will probably run through SA. It's about home court swagger,
it's about confidence and doubt. Rings on won and lost on such things.
Posted by: VMan | March 05, 2011 at 11:15 AM
I'm thinking that if the Lakers don't win tomorrow, they won't make it out of the west. They have to show that they're capable of beating the Spurs.
Posted by: Rob | March 05, 2011 at 11:15 AM
I smell a hard fought (yet really close, maybe even ugly) victory against the Spurs tomorrow. Just seems like it's about that time. I can't see us closing the reg season out and not get a W against SA. Same with Dallas. I'd even argue Dallas more so because over the years, we've always been in their head, particularly Dirk.
Posted by: alekesam | March 05, 2011 at 11:29 AM
Tomorrow's a huge game no doubt. I wouldn't say that a loss on Sunday means the Lakes can't make it out of the West, but it Def would be a bad omen. Me personally, I think the Lakers give their best game of the year tomorrow and we can start practicing our kum by yas. Certainly they have the motivation for this game.
Last game the difference seemed to be 3s. They went 6-16, we went 2-14. We out-rebounded them, both teams only had 10 turnovers, we shot more FTs. We actually did a real good job on TD and Blair last game, but Jefferson killed us.
Posted by: Mark G | March 05, 2011 at 11:44 AM
***REPOST***
I thought that Mark Medina made some very good and true points in his video summation. The Lakers played terrible last night, with the exception of Andrew Bynum. Their leader, Kobe Bryant, who I love to death, had an absolutely putrid game, IMHO. The fact that they won did little to hide what was a truly disappointing effort.
Kobe kept forcing shots as though he had some personal vendetta to settle. He needed to get his ass out of the pinch post and thus allow Pau and Andrew some room to operate. I was really upset at the selfish way Kobe played last night.
The rest of the team wasn't much better. Only the facts that Charlotte is disoriented since the loss of Gerald Wallace and that Stephen Jackson checked out early allowed the Lakers a relatively stress-free win.
The Lakers need to get their act together. The team they play Sunday placed EIGHT players in double figures last night against a very good Miami team. San Antonio shares the ball and creates GOOD shots on just about every possession. If The Show plays like they did tonight on Sunday, they are going to get their feelings hurt.
Posted by: bronxlakerfan | March 05, 2011 at 11:25 AM
Posted by: bronxlakerfan | March 05, 2011 at 11:54 AM
I don't think it was ever the 'home-court advantage' that really helped the Lakers. As I remember it, Lakers in the past two years have been one of the top 'away' teams in the league - to them, home-court advantage is not necessary to win.
I think the differentiating point was that, in the past two seasons, the Lakers were much more confident in their abilities. And it showed in their play. For some reason - be it Kobe's knees or Pau's hesitance - the Lakers are not playing with as much swagger.
Win or lose the race to the top of the West, it's their playoff attitude that's going to matter come May/June.
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www.bondservant-of-christ.blogspot.com
Posted by: JPkb24 | March 05, 2011 at 12:06 PM
There has been a lot of debate on this site about the importance of the regular season and how much emphasis the Lakers should put on it. It's understandable that the team's focus cannot be laser-like for every game considering the workload they have undertaken during the past 3 years.
But, if you look at some of the bad losses the Lakers have endured this year, you realize that the team has no one to blame but themselves for their current situation. Losses to Indiana, Sacramento and Milwaukee at home and Cleveland on the road are examples of games that the Lakers let slip through their fingers. Those type of losses always have consequences.
Posted by: bronxlakerfan | March 05, 2011 at 12:17 PM
For last two seasons which team had the best records during the regular season? Cleveland Cavaliers. And you know what happened to that team and who won the titles. SA and Dallas have the deep rotation and that's why they are having good regular season. But once the playoff starts, the rotation gets a little tighter. The Lakers are more built for the playoff than long haul regular season games.
Posted by: LakerPeace | March 05, 2011 at 12:25 PM
VMan,
Here's the stituation with the Miami Heat...
If you live in the South Florida area and were a fan of the Miami Heat before LeBron James became a Heatian, then it's okay to be a Heat fan.
If you are have become a fan of the Miami Heat since the Alliance of Evil has formed, you're a bad person.
It's really that simple.
If you're a bandwagoneer Miami Heat fan, you're a bad person.
I will let you and other people into a little secret kept close to the chest of members of the International Secret Brotherhood of Bartenders... bartenders have a similiar experience and when they talk shop, they don't talk about making drinks. They talk about managing people, handling crowds, and reading people. When in the company of fellow members of the Secret Brotherhood of Bartenders, the members of this elite organization will without fail turn to the subject of how much people disappoint them. The truth is that the experience of dealing with people over and over and over again leads to a simple and disturbing conclusion... appearances AREN'T DECEIVING.
If it walks like a duck... quacks like a duck... it's a duck. Pure and simple.
Sure, maybe 5-10% of the time somone who walks and quacks like a duck ISN'T a duck. Sure. But working as a bartender being really busy you don't have time shift the whole way you manage people to compensate for the potenetially that someone whose appearance does not reflect their chracter... because 90-95% of the time THEIR APPEARANCE REFLECTS THEIR CHARACTER.
It's just the way it is.
As a result of this, if someone is rude to you and he/she doesn't tip, that person is a bad, selfish person and they're going to hell.
It's that simple.
Get to know a bartender, that bartender who smiles at you and asks you how your day is and honestly ask him in confidence if people who don't tip are going to hell, you know what they'll say?
"OH YEAH! Definitely."
Because people who don't tip are self-absorbed, selfish people without compassion nor generosity.
Now people will take exception to this judgement and they're right, there are exceptions... BUT 90-95% OF THE TIME THIS STATEMENT IS ACCURATE AND THAT'S GOOD ENOUGH TO ROUND UP TO MAKE A CORRECT OBJECTIVE STATEMENT.
The same thing is true for bandwagoneer Miami Heat fans.
They're bad people.
They worship narcissism, selfishness, shallow athletic ability and people who betray people who love them.
Bad people.
They're the spiritual equivalent of people who like dog fighting. Bad, discompassionate people.
'Nuff said.
So, yeah, we all should root against the Miami Heat. Doing so is the right thing to do.
What do we play for? RINGS!!!
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!!!
Posted by: Jon K. | March 05, 2011 at 12:46 PM
The Laker won't be able to catch up with San Antonio, especially considering how well they are playing.
Dallas is another story as they're a paper tiger; however, the Lakers' injuries have me concerned.
What do we play for? RINGS!!!
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!!!
Posted by: Jon K. | March 05, 2011 at 12:47 PM
It would be good if the Lakers could pass Dallas. If not then they would likely have just the first round for home court. To win 3 road series.....well there is a reason it rarely happens. Because it is hard. The Lakers might have to look at games like the one in Cleveland or the one against the Bob Cats and wonder what could have been had they played well against scrubs.
Posted by: Steve6167 | March 05, 2011 at 12:56 PM
"I don't think it was ever the 'home-court advantage' that really helped the Lakers."
So playing a game 7 on your home floor when you're down by like 11 points with the end of the game within sight, you don't think home court really helped?
Posted by: Tim-4-Show | March 05, 2011 at 01:06 PM
If the Lakers win out, then they will certainly overtake Dallas. Spurs.................fagetaboudit. The Lakers actually need to win out to put the fear back in the league. Right now even Cleveland is unafraid to play the Lakers and relentlessly bang on our bigs and Kobe with the apparent sanction of the league (refs)! Disgraceful!
All those lackadazical games before ASG break were the death of this franchise for this year. Too many platitudes and "we have to____" garbage, instead of just doing whatever it was they needed to be doing all along! Do they really need to get a beatdown to realize they are doing things wrong and can't fix them until the next game!!!!????!!! In-game fixes on many things are easy to do, especially hustle plays. Saying the Lakers are bored is garbage. Hard to imagine getting paid many thousands of dollars for 48 minutes of effort is difficult to rouse anybody no matter how many times a week, month, or year!
Posted by: NuggetsCountry | March 05, 2011 at 01:49 PM
Pablum. Utter pablum.
Lakers win... and what? Lakers catchup to Dallas... and... aaand???
How does this matter.
Where's more important things that actually MATTER.
News in LA seems to be Lakers, lakers, lakers, kobe, lakers... yet another stadium, lakers, kobelakers...
Posted by: Anglr | March 05, 2011 at 02:17 PM
@Tim-4-Show
If the Lakers had utilized the home-court advantage, then they would have never had to get to a Game 7, much less had to be down 11 points IN that Game 7. The only reason they won that game is because they pushed themselves to.
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www.bondservant-of-christ.blogspot.com
Posted by: JPkb24 | March 05, 2011 at 02:18 PM
The Lakers usually close out their playoff series on the road anyway. And historically, I don't recall a Phil Jackson led Bulls team ever going to 7 games in a series. The team with the best overall record hardly ever wins it all anyway. Cleveland had the best record the last two years and went nowhere. Last year the Septics made the Finals out of the 4th seed in the east with only 50 wins. The key really who is playing best and healthiest when the playoffs come around. And if all else fails we have KB24. If it was too easy it wouldn't be fun anyway.
Posted by: slimtata | March 05, 2011 at 07:17 PM
Catch the Spurs? Nope. Catch the Mavs? Nope. Why you ask? Mavs are steam rolling through the league and most of their tough games are over. They beat Boston and Miami twice. They beat the Lakers without Dirk.
Spurs and 7 games up on the Lakers. I'm more worried about the Mavs than the Lakers because you can tell Kobe has lost a step. Team chemistry isn't good and they will have to beat the Mavs and the Spurs in the playoffs back to back without homecourt. Lakers are done. Besides, the REFs gave the Lakers the championship last year as BOSTON WAS ROBBED! Lakers are paper champs!
Posted by: Spurs Pimp | March 05, 2011 at 11:02 PM
Well, it's apparent the Mavericks are getting no respect from Laker fans, although the Mavs have won 18 out of their last 19 games since Dirk returned from a 9 game injury absence. There are reasons this Maverick team is different from their "out in the 1st round" teams of the last 3 years. I can understand the Mavs not getting much respect from those in LA, but you better hope this year the Lakers don't have to go through the Mavericks to win the west. You'll see why first hand on March 12th.
Posted by: Doug in Dallas | March 06, 2011 at 01:40 PM