I am wondering how important is it to have a sufficient length of straight pipe at the feed end of the pump. As I understand it, you want/need/should have 4 to 5 times the diameter of the pipe as the length for straight pipe going to the pump intake port. Doesn't the presence of a pump basket negate the beneficial effect of having, say, 8" of straight pipe feeding the pump?

I never did find a post that resolved this question for me. Seems like the potential beneficial effects of having this straight pipe would not occur with that pump basket in place.