To underscore: bobpickering is right -- Your number of nights makes NO difference in your chances in the lottery. In fact, you can add nights or drop nights even after starting the hike, it does not matter. The only thing that matters is that you have a permit, and that you start your hike on the date stated on the permit.

There are other places you can go to acclimate before your hike: Horseshoe Meadows, Onion Valley, Mammoth. All of those will put you at or above 9k elevation, and if you spend several days and nights there, you will be good for the Whitney hike.

Good luck in the lottery!!