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) /

4 of 6

(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

3. The Los Angeles Lakers can benefit from momentum

Along with good habits and confidence, momentum is one of those intangibles that some think isn’t all that important.

Yes, the Lakers played like crap in the eight seeding games just prior to last year’s playoffs, but examples like that tend to be the exception rather than the rule.

Remember the 2001 Lakers? For much of the regular season, they couldn’t really put together any momentum or winning streaks due to injuries and the so-called feud between Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant.

MUST-READ: The 10 best Los Angeles Lakers teams of all-time

But once the team got healthy, both physically and mentally, it ended the regular season with an eight-game winning streak, and for the first time that season, it felt like things were right.

That momentum got even heavier, as it went 15-1 in the playoffs en route to its second straight world championship.

On the other hand, the 2011 Lakers were hot in February and March, then went on a five-game losing streak just before the end of the regular season. That squad then struggled in the first round of the playoffs against an inferior New Orleans Hornets squad before getting swept by the Dallas Mavericks.

When momentum is going against you, it becomes a lot harder to reverse it and start succeeding again.

Home/Lakers News