3 lessons from Game 5 that the Lakers can apply in Game 6

The Los Angeles Lakers traveled to Memphis to face the Grizzlies in Game 5 after taking a 3-1 series lead by handling their business at Crypto.com Arena. However, the result was a 116-99 loss, and the team is now heading back to Los Angeles for a pivotal Game 6 showdown.

The Lakers were in contention until late in the third quarter, but were undone by a 26-2 extended run into the early fourth. Obviously the Lakers would have liked to finish off the series in Memphis, but it was always going to be a tall task considering Memphis is one of the best home teams in the league and the Lakers still had a game in hand at home.

Regardless of the loss, Game 5 was a good film game for the Lakers coaching staff, particularly the second half. Let's go through three key lessons that the Lakers can learn and apply heading into Game 6:

Now, obviously both the Lakers and Grizzlies will be poring through game film and attempting to not only make adjustments, but adjustments to adjustments and anticipating certain approaches from the opposite coaching staff. That constant tinkering and moving of chess pieces is the beauty of the playoffs, especially in an extended series.

I can’t wait to see what both sides have in store for each other in what some might call a must-win for both sides.

Dr. Rajpal Brar, DPT has a doctorate in physical therapy from Northern Arizona University, is a youth basketball coach at the U12 level and runs his own in-person and online sports medicine and performance business, 3CB Performance, in West LA and Valencia, CA in which he further combines his movement expertise and fitness training. Combining his background in biomechanics, movement science, and learning science - he consults in a variety of sports including basketball on movement mechanics and skill acquisition. Brar is additionally training at UCLA’s mindful awareness research center (MARC and analyzes the Lakers from a skills & medical perspective for Silver Screen and Roll and on his own YouTube Channel. You can follow him on Twitter at @3cbPerformance.