5 reasons why the Los Angeles Lakers really need a high playoff seed

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 11: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts with his MVP trophy and Finals trophy after winning the 2020 NBA Championship over the Miami Heat in Game Six of the 2020 NBA Finals at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on October 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

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5. The Los Angeles Lakers need to build good habits

When going after a big goal in life, whether it’s winning a world championship or the type of “mundane” goals that the rest of us seek to accomplish, it all starts with having the right mindset and habits.

If the Lakers decide to chill for the rest of the regular season until just before the playoffs start, they will develop and ingrain the bad habits to go with not playing winning basketball.

It’s a lot harder to unlearn bad habits and replace them with good habits than some may think, especially when one is a pro athlete. Just ask anyone who has tried to not only lose weight, but also keep it off.

Coaches sometimes talk about the “lightswitch” mentality and how it’s a dangerous thing to develop. The reason for this metaphor is that getting back to winning habits isn’t as simple as flipping a lightswitch.

There have been multiple Lakers teams that tried to win another NBA title but failed because of that dreaded lightswitch mentality.

Most of you will probably remember the 2003 team that was going after a “4-peat.” Well, they didn’t play hard until midseason, and once the playoffs arrived, they lacked energy and defense and ended up getting rolled in the second round of the playoffs.

That better not happen again.

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