The Lakers have struggled through the regular season and are fighting to make their way into the playoffs. With the remaining stretch of 23 games left, the Lakers look to gain a few wins and momentum heading into the postseason. Through 59 games, the Lakers have had an up-and-down year than the franchise expected. Following last year’s success after the trade deadline, the Lakers ultimately fell short to the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals. Despite winning the first in-season tournament this year along with LeBron James and Anthony Davis having one of their best years since the 2020 Championship season, the Lakers are currently 31-28 sitting at the ninth seed. The Lakers’ playoff chances are starting to become clear.
Los Angeles Lakers Playoff Chances
Tough Schedule Ahead
Reminder: here’s the Lakers schedule in March.
It’s really tough. pic.twitter.com/sNDGvaAaGR
— 🎗NBA•Fan🎗 (@Klutch_23) February 21, 2024
As of right now, the Lakers are going to have a tough stretch ahead of them if they want to make the playoffs. The Lakers have the fifth toughest remaining schedule. As of today if the playoffs were to start sitting at the ninth seed, would mean the Lakers would have to win two play-in games in order to secure the eighth seed in the Western Conference. They will have to face teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves, Denver Nuggets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Milwaukee Bucks, and the Los Angeles Clippers. All of these teams are set to secure a playoff spot and have had success throughout the regular season. However, there still is optimism the Lakers can do it.
Throughout the regular season, we have seen the Lakers be a dominant team on both ends of the floor. If they can garner that high-level play similar to the run they had last year heading into the 2023 playoffs, there’s still a chance at making it into the first round.
Health as a Factor
Throughout the season we have seen the Lakers struggle with injuries amongst their roster. Key role players like Jarred Vanderbilt, Cam Reddish, and Gabe Vincent have been in and out of the lineups. Recently, Christian Wood had been diagnosed with effusion in his left knee. Wood is to be reevaluated in two weeks. The Lakers are expecting to get Vincent back sometime in March. Vanderbilt seems to be the key piece alongside Anthony Davis on the defensive end. There is no exact timeframe as to when Vanderbilt will be back out on the floor. The Lakers are urgent to get him back. Vanderbilt was a huge success to the Lakers run last year.
Getting these key players back will help with many aspects of this Lakers team. It will ease the burden of James and Davis, help the team’s defense, offer new offensive options, and most importantly bring back the much-needed depth to the roster.
The Last Word
With the tough schedule ahead and a Lakers team with several players out, there is still hope for the Lakers. We have seen the Lakers knock down tough teams that have flourished through the regular season. We have seen the Lakers win the first in-season tournament. Players like Max Christie, Jaxson Hayes, and Spencer Dinwiddie, who recently got acquired at the trade deadline, will have to be impactful while their teammates are sidelined. And, ultimately we have seen the successful push the Lakers had last year. The Lakers were in a very similar situation as to last year’s playoff push. You never want to count out the purple and gold, especially alongside the dominant duo of James and Davis. With 23 games left and a tough rivalry matchup against the Clippers this Wednesday, the Lakers look to make a push for a playoff spot.
