The Los Angeles Lakers’ (and the entire league’s) layoff
Let’s start with the most obvious reason, the break in action that we are in the midst of currently. When the season was suspended, teams were really just beginning to round into playoff form. The intensity was picking up and you could tell the competition was at its highest level of the season.
And then it all stopped. If the season resumes in late July like it’s being discussed, that’s over four months of rust that will need to be shaken off by the players.
The Lakers have to be one of, if not the most, affected teams by the long layoff. They were playing as well as anyone in the league when things came to a halt and appeared to be the title favorites at that point.
A fan idea on how to resume the NBA seasonRELATED:
Now, they are forced to try to find some semblance of the rhythm they were in before which is extremely challenging. No other championship team in NBA history has had to stop mid-season and attempt to regain the same chemistry at a much later date.
So don’t tell me that the long layoff is reason enough to throw an asterisk next to the 2020 title because if anything it just makes it a more difficult path.