This was even more specific than considering how to deal with the Rockets before, representing that the Lakers were starting to truly prepare for the playoffs.
Although from the beginning of this season, neither the Lakers' management, coaching staff, nor players considered winning the championship as this season's goal... it's still the same now, even though they are currently first in the West, but since it's come to this, the necessary preparations must be made.
So, at the beginning of this afternoon's strategy meeting before the preparation, Del Harris told the players, "Our goal is to take first place in the West, the SuperSonics are second, and we will likely meet them in the Western Conference Finals. The upcoming game with them, and the rematch when we return to Los Angeles, are equivalent to a Western Finals preview..."
