The LA Lakers aren’t in the perfect position right now to make the playoffs. They are 23-27 and have lost four of their last 10 games. However, the season isn’t over yet and they still have a chance to make it to the playoffs.
LeBron James is close to overtaking Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on the NBA’s all-time top scorers list, but he also wants to win. Retiring with four championships is great, but one more would be great.
This article reveals everything you need to know about the LA Lakers’ chances of making the playoffs this year. We’ll look at their schedule and see how far they can go.
The LA Lakers aren’t in a bad situation right now
The Lakers are currently 23-27 and have the third-worst record in the Western Conference. While that sounds bad, the truth is that they are not in a bad situation right now.
With 32 games left in the season, LeBron and his squad could make a powerful playoff push and surprise their fans.
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As bad as their record is, the fact of the matter is that the Lakers are just two games behind the last play-in spot currently held by the Utah Jazz. They are also three games behind sixth-seeded West, which would send them straight to the playoffs.
Lakers have a favorable schedule but have to rely on other teams
Out of 30 NBA teams, the Lakers rank 16th in remaining strength on the schedule. That means half of the league has a tougher schedule than them, which bodes well for them.
The average win rate of upcoming Lakers opponents is 49.8%. They will also face two more games before the end of the season against the Houston Rockets, who currently have the worst record in the league.
They will also play the Orlando Magic (19-31), Portland Trail Blazers (23-26) and Toronto Raptors (23-28). Unfortunately, the Lakers will have seven straight games by the end of the season, which will make the situation more difficult.
The good news is that the Minnesota Timberwolves have the fourth-toughest game schedule in the league. The Phoenix Suns, another team ahead of the LA Lakers, are seventh, the Golden State Warriors 12th, and the Jazz 15th.
New additions to the roster could improve the LA Lakers
The Lakers traded for Rui Hachimura earlier this week and the power forward has played two games for the team so far. While the big man didn’t excel, there’s no doubt he’ll play well once he gets used to the team.
The 24-year-old forward has averaged 9.0 points and 5.0 rebounds for the Lakers so far.
The NBA trade deadline is Feb. 9, and the Lakers have less than two weeks to figure out what other trades they can make. With another roster move, the team could continue to improve and make a strong playoff push.
If Jeanie Buss and Rob Pelinka decide to trade first-round draft picks, there’s no doubt the Lakers could enlist another great player.
Conclusion: low chances
The Lakers have a shot at making the playoffs, but their chances are very slim if they end up in the play-in. Despite having a powerful team that can beat anyone, they’re not exactly in control of their own destiny.
For the Lakers to make the playoffs, they must rely on other teams to lose games. That includes the Phoenix Suns, who played poorly without Devin Booker.
The LA Lakers have nine games left before the All-Star break, but only three of those are at home. If they can win at least five games before the break, their chances of making the playoffs increase dramatically.
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The team will take an eight-day break during the All-Star weekend. While LeBron James will be playing in the 2023 All-Star Game, he’s also getting a much-needed break for the final playoff push.