The Los Angeles Lakers were given an extra break ahead of the Western Conference Semifinals as their rival, the Houston Rockets, needed seven games to claim a first-round series victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
L.A. closed out their series with the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 5 last Saturday. That means six full days will have passed when they take to the court for Game 1 against Houston, with many wondering how it would affect the veteran Lakers team.
The four-month hiatus severely disrupted L.A.’s rhythm, resulting in a form slump early in the NBA restart.