Kudos to Kobe and Phil Jackson for not only not panicking but for not even worrying for a minute about their game 1 loss to the Rockets in that best of seven games Western Semi-Final. They have only begun to fight, and they are not about to change, just because of a single loss, what gave them far more wins than anyone in the West this season.
A team in the Lakers' situation needs to man up but not to change up. One win is just 1/4 of the wins needed to win a series, hardly anything to pressure you to make changes in the way you play basketball, given that the way you play made you best in the West this regular season.
And I can't think of a better way for the Lakers to prepare for those defensive terrors, the Denver Nuggets, than by having to deal the Rockets, who are actually more talented defensively than the Nuggets, though not as fast. Had the Trailblazers defeated the Rockets, the Lakers playing the Blazers would not have been anywhere near as good a preparation for what awaits them in the West Conference Final: the ferocious and fast Nuggets' defense, otherwise known as the second coming of the gold rush to Colorado. And also known as the Broncos' temporary replacement.
Early in a best of seven series, never worry and especially never panic. If you go down 2 games to 0, you may tinker with your rotation and your schemes, but even then, do not panic, and do not throw the baby out with the bathwater. Rather, if early in a series you are down 1-0 or 2-1, increase the intensity, even the aggression if you have to. If for example the referees are calling a lot of touch fouls against you, you have nothing to lose by fouling harder and eliminating the possibility of the layup and the plus one free throw. At least you are then getting your money's worth from fouling.
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