{"id":649873,"date":"2026-03-10T01:04:13","date_gmt":"2026-03-10T01:04:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/649873\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T01:04:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T01:04:13","slug":"do-los-angeles-lakers-really-homecourt-in-nba-playoffs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/649873\/","title":{"rendered":"Do Los Angeles Lakers really homecourt in NBA playoffs?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Los Angeles Lakers are currently in the midst of their toughest stretch of the season<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Starting last Thursday in Denver<\/a>, nine of their next 11 games were against playoff teams with six of eight against teams currently bunched up with them in the Western Conference standings.\u00a0<\/p>\n

With 18 games remaining, the NBA\u2019s marathon 82-game season is now a sprint to the finish \u2014 that magical time when fans begin squinting at the standings like stockbrokers watching a volatile market.<\/p>\n

Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers high five during the game against the New York Knicks. NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Every win feels like leverage.<\/p>\n

Every loss feels like disaster.<\/p>\n

The next nine days could decide if the Lakers will have homecourt advantage<\/a> in the first round of the NBA playoffs. <\/p>\n

But that begs the question: Do the Lakers need or want homecourt advantage in the first round of the NBA Playoffs?<\/p>\n

The answer might surprise you.<\/p>\n

No. Not really.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Of course, if you ask any player or coach publicly, they\u2019ll say the right things. Homecourt advantage matters. The crowd helps bring energy. Sticking to your normal routine helps. Sleeping in your own bed helps.<\/p>\n

All of that is true.<\/p>\n

But the reality of the NBA playoffs \u2014 especially in the Western Conference \u2014 is that matchups and health matter far more than geography.<\/p>\n

Right now, the Lakers sit in the middle of the Western Conference traffic jam. Seeds three through six are separated by a single game heading into action Monday night. Oklahoma City and San Antonio have already pulled away at the top like two sports cars leaving a crowded freeway.<\/p>\n

Everyone else is stuck jockeying for position.<\/p>\n

The Lakers are currently tied with Denver for fifth. Minnesota currently sits in third. Houston sits in fourth just a half-game ahead of the Lakers.<\/p>\n

Western Conference standings as of 5 p.m. PT Monday.<\/p>\n

Over the next nine days, the Lakers will face all of them.<\/p>\n

Minnesota on Tuesday. Denver on Saturday. Then two back-to-back road games in Houston.<\/p>\n

If the Lakers win their next five games, they will sit alone in third place with homecourt advantage in the first round in their control.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not something we\u2019re focused on, but we\u2019re definitely aware of,\u201d said Lakers\u2019 guard Marcus Smart about the upcoming stretch. \u201cMy experience, we got to focus on one game at a time\u2026We don\u2019t have the luxury to look ahead. We definitely got to take it one game at a time and handle business.\u201d<\/p>\n

Handling business is great, but let\u2019s pause for a moment and remember something.<\/p>\n

This is exactly what happened last season<\/a>.<\/p>\n

With 18 games to go last year, the Lakers found themselves in fourth place in a crowded Western Conference. Seeds two through eight were separated by four games, with two through five separated by just 1.5 games. Everyone wanted the Lakers to finish second or third.\u00a0<\/p>\n

When the dust settled, they finished third in the West and earned homecourt advantage in the first round.<\/p>\n

And it didn\u2019t matter one bit.<\/p>\n

Minnesota walked into Crypto.com Arena in Game 1 <\/a>and punched the Lakers in the mouth. The Timberwolves blew them out in front of their own crowd. The Lakers recovered to win Game 2, but the rest of the series unraveled quickly.<\/p>\n

They lost the series in five games<\/a>, including two of their three home games,<\/p>\n

So much for homecourt advantage.<\/p>\n

LeBron James goes up for a dunk against the Pelicans. Getty Images<\/p>\n

Last season the Lakers were dominant in Los Angeles, finishing 31\u201310 at home \u2014 the second-best home record in the Western Conference behind the eventual champion Oklahoma City Thunder.<\/p>\n

It looked impressive in the standings, but it meant nothing in April. It rarely does when the matchup is wrong.<\/p>\n

And matchups are exactly what the Lakers should be studying during this upcoming stretch, not necessarily results.\u00a0<\/p>\n

With a month left in the regular season this team is still figuring itself out. Their home record is already worse than last season at 20-12. That\u2019s the 12th best home record in the NBA<\/a>. Their road record is ranked higher.<\/a><\/p>\n

LeBron James, Luka Doncic<\/a>, and Austin Reaves \u2014 arguably the most fascinating offensive trio<\/a> in the conference \u2014 have played only a little over a dozen games together. The chemistry is improving, but playoff basketball demands instinctive trust.<\/p>\n

The kind that comes from repetition.<\/p>\n

Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves hits a behind-the-back step back against New York Knicks guard Mikal Bridges. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n

The next nine days will act as a scouting report for April. The Lakers will see how they match up against Minnesota\u2019s size and length, Denver\u2019s experience, and Houston\u2019s relentless athleticism.<\/p>\n

These games are not just about wins and losses.<\/p>\n

They\u2019re about gathering information. They\u2019re about discovering which lineups survive when the game slows down. They\u2019re about understanding which defensive matchups can lock-up their opponent during a seven-game series.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis could be a perfect time or not,\u201d Doncic said about the upcoming schedule. \u201cJust gotta approach those games with the same mentality. Obviously, every one of those teams has great players. They\u2019re winning games. So we need to go game by game first of all, and then just try to win all those games.\u201d<\/p>\n

If the Lakers secure the No. 3 seed, great. They\u2019ll happily take the home games.<\/p>\n

But if they finish fifth, avoid the play-in tournament, and have a more favorable matchup?<\/p>\n

That\u2019s perfectly fine too.<\/p>\n

Because the truth about playoff basketball is brutally simple.<\/p>\n

It isn\u2019t about where you play. It\u2019s about who you play \u2014 and whether you\u2019re healthy enough to beat them.<\/p>\n

LeBron is dealing with a banged up elbow and arthritic feet<\/a>. Maxi Kleber has a bad back.<\/a> Ayton is dealing with a gimpy knee<\/a>. Reaves is only a few weeks removed from a calf strain<\/a> that cost him nearly half the season.<\/p>\n

Rui Hachimura, Luke Kennard and Austin Reaves of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrate on the court. NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters <\/p>\n

California Post News: Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, X<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, WhatsApp<\/a>, LinkedIn<\/a>
California Post Sports Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, X<\/a>
California Post Opinion<\/a>
California Post Newsletters: Sign up here!<\/a>
California Post App: Download here!<\/a>
Home delivery: Sign up here!<\/a>
<\/a>Page Six Hollywood: Sign up here!<\/a><\/p>\n

So if you\u2019re a Lakers fan nervously watching the standings every night, take a breath.<\/p>\n

Yes, winning these next five games would be a statement. Yes, climbing to third place would look nice on the bracket.<\/p>\n

But the real goal isn\u2019t seeding.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s survival.<\/p>\n

Stay out of the play-in tournament. Build chemistry between LeBron, Luka, and Reaves. Get Ayton playing like \u201cDominAyton\u201d again.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSign up for the California Morning Report newsletter\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCalifornia’s top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tThanks for signing up!\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

And most importantly \u2014 arrive to the postseason healthy.<\/p>\n

Do that, and homecourt advantage becomes a luxury.<\/p>\n

Fail to do it, and homecourt becomes nothing more than a pretty backdrop for another team\u2019s celebration.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t