It’s been known for months, even through the pandemic-produced pause, but now it’s cemented. The Lakers will be the top seed in the West, after clinching it on Monday night. That doesn’t come with all the typical advantages. In so many ways, 2020 isn’t a normal year. Game 7s, if necessary, won’t be at Staples Center. They’ll be in Orlando, just like every game preceding it.
But don’t think the loss of home court means the loss of all top-seeded bonuses for the Lakers. There are clear tiers in this season’s Western Conference, and one of those cutoff points, followed by a notable drop-off, is between the seventh and eighth seed.
Here’s the seven seed’s current record: Dallas Mavericks, 40-29.
Here’s the eight seed’s current record: Memphis Grizzlies, 32-36.
Circumstances and personnel have been tweaked since March, so the records of a few franchises can be misleading. Some would…
