Los Angeles Lakers: Frank Vogel talks playoff readiness despite lay-off

In response to the COVID-19 epidemic, the NBA, along with professional sports leagues across the globe, have suspended their seasons and could even look to cancel them altogether. The NBA is one of the leagues that is most likely to continue on at some point considering that most teams only had about 15 games left in the regular season.

While it is possible that the regular season’s final weeks will simply be ‘skipped’, it might not be the likeliest scenario. Rumors have circulated that the NBA is considering going directly into the playoffs once cleared to resume action, but nobody truly knows how much merit they have. One man who does not seem to care about rumors is Los Angeles Lakers head coach Frank Vogel.

Vogel voiced his opinion on the coronavirus’s effect on the Lakers’ season with ‘Mason and Ireland’ on ESPN 710 Los Angeles. From Vogel’s comments, he seems to firmly believe that the best course of action for the Lakers franchise and their roster is to operate under the assumption that anything is possible.

Nobody currently knows when the hiatus will end in the NBA. There is a chance that it doesn’t end for quite some time. Regardless, Vogel is keeping the Lakers active and ready to pursue their championship dreams this season when their time comes.

This is the right way to approach it. Players are staying ready and are currently trying to get into a playoff mindset considering the possibility of going right into the playoffs when play resumes.

What Los Angeles Lakers head coach Frank Vogel said:

Vogel says he has been watching a lot of film to make sure the Lakers are able to not experience a chemistry lull upon a prospective return of the NBA season:

"“I began to watch some of our recent games and take notes on the way we were progressing so that we can make sure we can pick up where we left off whenever we are able to resume.”"

The Lakers must have a plan of attack formulated for every possible scenario and it seems they have that in place, per Vogel.

If the NBA opted to go to the playoffs outright, the Lakers would open up with a fully healthy Memphis Grizzlies (32-33) squad that features young stars in Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. Vogel maintained this sentiment with his game planning:

"“We are working on the playoff opponents as if the season were not to resume and they were to go right into the playoffs. So whenever we’re able to resume, we’re ready to go.”"

The Lakers were really starting to play to their true capability in their final 13 games, winning 11 of them (6 against current playoff teams). Vogel told ‘Mason and Ireland’ that he could visually see the changes in performance that their offensive and defensive schemes were making. He believes the Lakers can return to that point of prominence when given the opportunity:

"“We’ve just grown. We’ve built our package of offense, we’ve built our defensive coverages and our schemes and weapons we have there and that’s how I felt in terms of watching these recent games – I still think there’s room to grow and hopefully we’ll have that chance.”"

If the Los Angeles Lakers can somehow improve on the 49-14 team that they are in the present, the rest of the league better watch out. The Lakers were already poised to make some noise in the NBA playoffs, but with Vogel’s continued vote of confidence, it provides even more hope.