The Los Angeles Lakers are three games back of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference, and their playoff hopes could rely on Lonzo Ball
It seems that with every passing day and week, the Los Angeles Lakers‘ hopes for making the playoffs are falling by the wayside. The Lakers are currently three games back of the Los Angeles Clippers for the final spot in the playoffs, and their schedule doesn’t get any easier over the final few weeks of the regular season.
In fact, the Lakers have the 10th most difficult schedule remaining in the NBA, and the 4th toughest in the Western Conference overall.
Safe to say that if the Lakers are going to make the playoffs this season, it’s going to take nearly every ounce of near perfect basketball that the team has in them – and, near flawless bill of health moving forward.
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That means an effective – and healthy – Lonzo Ball when he makes his return from injury, who the team has really missed over the last few weeks.
The big problem with that, though, is the fact that there’s still no concrete timetable on his return. And that makes the Lakers’ playoff hopes even more problematic. In his absence, the Lakers are 4-8 over the last few weeks. And while all of that can’t be pinned on the absence of Ball, there’s no question that they miss both his playmaking and defensive prowess in the backcourt.
Ball was averaging 10 points, five rebounds and five assists per game this season before his injury in late-January.
Ball might not be the certified superstar that many – including his father – were quick to proclaim that he would be, but he is an impactful player that has be missed in the Lakers’ lineup. And depending on when – or if – he returns this season, the Lakers could miss the playoffs entirely.
Many expect LeBron James to simply flip a switch and carry Los Angeles into the playoffs, but I’m not sure it’ll be that easy. This team clearly lacks talent, and is an uber competitive conference where there are no nights off.
LeBron might be up to the task to take his game to the next level, but if this team doesn’t get a healthy Lonzo Ball for the stretch run, the playoffs might be out of the picture entirely. In some odd – and unforeseen – way, the key to the Los Angeles Lakers making a return to the playoffs lies in the hands of Lonzo Ball, no LeBron James.