Outlook of Lakers’ Final Stretch of the Season
The Lakers are 5th in the Western Conference with a 33-21 record heading into the final 28 games of the regular season. Only 1 game separates the 3rd seed and the 6th seed.
The Lakers kick off the last quarter of the season tonight against the Clippers at Crypto.com Arena. LeBron James was downgraded to “Questionable” on the injury report this morning with left knee soreness. Other than that, the Lakers have no one else on the injury report.
Health will be the top priority in the final stretch of games. It’s difficult to sustain any sense of rhythm or momentum amid constant player injuries.
James, Doncic and Reaves have only played 10 games together with a 7-3 record.
We haven’t seen this iteration of the team maximize its potential for a long stretch, especially with its three best players.
Now, even when healthy, the Lakers still have questions about the fit of their roster. They still lack athletic two-way players, and their defense on the perimeter and interior isn’t reliable. Those positions of need will need to be addressed in the offseason. They have a +0 net rating after 54 games. They’ve scored 6,264 points this season and have allowed their opponents to score 6,264 points this season.
However, the healthiest teams often go farther in the postseason.
If the big three can remain available, who knows what they can accomplish even if they aren’t considered to be serious contenders this season.
The Lakers Face a Tougher Schedule to End the Season
According to Tankathon, the Lakers have the 10th-hardest remaining schedule among the 30 teams. This is based on the collective win percentage of their remaining opponents. Some of their tougher opponents include the Pistons, Thunder x2, Celtics, Rockets x2, Nuggets x2, and Knicks.
The good news is that the 4th-seeded Nuggets, whom the Lakers trail by just 1 game, have the toughest remaining schedule. And the Timberwolves, who the Lakers are tied with for 5th, have the 3rd toughest schedule remaining. Not to mention, the Lakers have an opportunity to win their season series against the Nuggets and Rockets, potentially securing the tiebreaker against both.
LeBron’s Evaluation of the Season So Far and the Team’s Health Going Forward
In an ESPN article, LeBron addressed the media right before the All-Star game to discuss the Lakers’ season and the potential of this group.
LeBron James:
“Most important for our ballclub right now is health, and I can’t state it any more clear. Our coaching staff is putting us in the right position. I think they’re going to give us a game plan every night, but when it comes to what we have to work with, we have to actually go out and see it. We haven’t been privy to having that opportunity much this year.”
So many question marks surrounded this Lakers team all season long, and now they have an opportunity to make their mark and sprint towards the finish line to spark a big postseason run.
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Categorized:Lakers