Early Season Dominance of Rivals Has an Edge to It

Avoiding the late-season rush, some Laker minds already have been looking ahead to potential playoff matchups at least four months in the future, though a quirk of the schedule is also to blame.

They have played the Houston Rockets of the Midwest Division three times but have yet to play two Pacific rivals, the Seattle SuperSonics and Phoenix Suns. That they also have defeated the Rockets three times means the Lakers have clinched the season series and, with it, the playoff tiebreaker for home-court advantage should the teams finish with the same record and then meet in the playoffs.

“That’s what I said going into [Monday’s] game,” Coach Del Harris said of the implications.

In other words, no need waiting until April to consider the possibilities.

“Tiebreakers are vital,” Harris said. “And we already have such a good conference record, which is the second tiebreaker after [head to head].”

The 16-2 mark against the West has come largely because of domination of the Midwest Division. The Lakers are 13-0 with an average winning margin of 16.4 points against those teams, going undefeated in seven games against the three best clubs, the Rockets (3-0), Utah Jazz (2-0) and San Antonio Spurs (2-0). That means the next games against the Spurs and Jazz also could give the Lakers the tiebreaker.

They have played teams in their own division only five times, including the Golden State Warriors twice.

The first game against the SuperSonics, the Lakers’ main rival for the Pacific title, doesn’t come until Jan. 24. That will be a nationally televised contest at Seattle.

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At 21-6, the Lakers are off to their best start in seven years. They are also 15 games above .500 for the first time this season.