NFL
By: Chris Jordan
The defending NBA champions the Los Angeles Lakers may have to play in the play-in-tournament that begins on May 18.
Before the implementation of the play-in tournament, the top eight seeds in each conference would make the playoffs when the regular season ended. That’s not the case anymore. Now, the only top six seeds in each conference are guaranteed a trip to the postseason.
The teams that finish seventh and eighth will join the teams that finish ninth and 10th in a four-team tournament to determine the final two playoff spots.
The Lakers are (37-28) and they’re currently the sixth seed in the Western Conference. The Lakers have a tough schedule coming up as they face the Clippers on Thursday night, they will be facing the Trail Blazers on Friday night, and they will be finishing their weekend facing the red-hot Phoenix Suns who is one of the hottest teams in the NBA right now.
There’s a chance that the Lakers can potentially lose the next three games. LeBron James will be ruled out for the next two games because James reaggravated his sprained ankle against the Toronto Raptors.
With the Trail Blazers having a (36-29) record they are only one- game back from the Lakers. This weekend is very crucial for the reigning defending Champions.
Will the Lakers play like a team that has that Championship DNA or will they fall into the play-in- tournament?
If the Lakers want to repeat as NBA Champions, they will be battled tested this postseason because if everything is shaping up like it’s looking. They may be facing the Phoenix Suns or the Utah Jazz in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
In the past few weeks, the Lakers have been struggling as a team and health has been their biggest question mark.
This season, James has missed over 20 games due to a high-ankle sprain and Davis had missed 30 games because of a calf injury.
Dennis Schroder has been out for the past few games due to Covid -19, and it looks like he won’t be back until his 14 days are up.
With the Western Conference being some competitive with teams such as Utah, Phoenix, Clippers, Nuggets, Mavericks, Blazers, etc.
The Lakers will need to get James fully healthy and Davis to get back in rhythm because if LeBron is not himself and if Davis can’t be dominant, they will be not getting out of the West.
Despite this, the Lakers struggle with everything that’s happening towards the team. They are still confident that can make a deep playoff run.
It doesn’t matter what seed they enter the playoffs with or even if it comes down to them playing the play-in-tournament.
If healthy the Lakers are still the favorites in the Western Conference because they have a guy that’s a 36-year-old guy by the name of LeBron James who is still the best player on the planet when healthy.
The experience of the Lakers is another reason why they should still be the favorites and because they what it takes to win a championship.
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