The Los Angeles Lakers will run into some challenges during the Orlando bubble.
The Los Angeles Lakers will be given the opportunity to continue the same quest they’ve had all season — to capture the NBA championship. Whether they are successful in attaining their goal will depend largely on how well they handle their biggest challenges.
When the season was suspended, the Lakers had compiled the best record in the Western Conference and was challenging Milwaukee for the top spot in the NBA. After the eight-game regular-season tune-up is completed, the team will almost certainly remain the top seed in the West.
But now that all games will be played in the “Orlando bubble”, home-court advantage has vanished. No longer will all potential game seven postseason games be played in front of a home crowd at the Staples Center.
Of course, NBA games the rest of this season won’t be played in front of any crowds at all. Players for all teams must adapt to performing in fan-less arenas. It is impossible to tell whether some teams will be more negatively impacted than others. Welcome to the sports world, 2020-style.
That’s one of many adjustments that players and teams must face when the season renews. But the Lakers face some additional challenges in their pursuit of the NBA title. Here are three of the most significant.