The Los Angeles Lakers are delicately hanging between a playoff and a play-in berth. They were nowhere near the top ten like a month and a half ago. But after James had the injury in late February, things started happening for the Lakers. Anthony Davis and D’Angelo Russell came back to the lineup with a bang.
In previous games, their performances, along with Austin Reaves and others, worked miracles for the Lakers. Apparently, the team was down as the 13th seed for the majority of the first phase of the season. At that time, nobody could imagine that the Lakers could be available for the postseason. But as it turns out, the LA franchise might actually be there.
Lakers Could End Up In The Play-In Tournament
Now, the question is, where are they going to finish after the postseason? The fans would want them to finish in the top six. But after the game against the Clippers, it does not look that easy. The rivals have even risen above the Warriors and are the 5th seed at present. The defending champions are the 6th seed but share the same record as Los Angeles Clippers. Clearly, the city rivals have made things difficult for the Lakers, as it looks like the 7th position is where they would end up at. Still, everything’s not lost yet, as two games still remain.
The fans of the Lakers would hope the Warriors and the city rivals mess up in their last two games. If that happens, the LA side must take the advantage of that. And possibly, if everything falls into place, the Lakers may actually qualify for the playoffs via a top-six finish. However, the Hollywood team has proved that they have a big problem with consistency. Plus, the players are a bit injury-prone. That might increase the concerns for the franchise and create obstacles. LeBron James, at 38, just came out of a month-long break due to a tendon injury on his right foot.
Fitness Is A Big Concern For The Stars Of The LA Franchise
Anthony Davis knows that his feet are weak, as he has missed as many as 20 games since last December due to a stress injury. D’Angelo Russell was also out for a long time, too, after he sprained his ankle. However, these three are the most valuable players for the Lakers. If they can stay fit, there is a chance the Los Angeles franchise may do miracles in the postseason. But if not, then the LA side is in deep trouble. Right now, the Lakers share the same record with the Pelicans.
The Pelicans are keen on overtaking the Lakers. Either way, the Hollywood franchise may finish between the seventh seed and the tenth at the end of the regular season. Then the Los Angeles team might face the challenges of the Pelicans, the Timberwolves, or perhaps the Thunder. Anyway, reaching the playoffs from the play-in and then going on to win the season sounds like a Hollywood script, and the fans who hope that’s possible are surely living in La La Land. From here onwards, the Lakers will need to make the unthinkable jump like a month ago to the top-six. That’s the best option for the LA franchise.
