They "almost pissed it away" because they know they're the best team in the WEst. they don't have to prove it, they already have by having such a large cushion and did last year in the playoffs.
But the Hornets on the other hand, like the other WEst teams, treat every game against the Lakers as a playoff game/statement game, which is why West/Paul played the entire 2nd half. So, regular season intensity for Lakers, playoff intensity for Hornets, and Lakers still won. No worries.
It's a luxury of being 44-10 while the rest of the West struggles to win 40 before 20.