NBA: Stars who will shine the brightest during the playoff push

LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers

It isn’t NBA basketball without the King. LeBron James will always be a focal point in NBA news and publicity. This year specifically is a little different than what both the NBA and LeBron himself have seen and been used to in the past.

Coming off of very successful teams in Miami and Cleveland in the past years (both of whom that have helped him get to his eight consecutive finals appearances,) this is LeBron’s first year on a not so hot Los Angeles Lakers. Usually, by this time of season, LeBron and his company are sitting comfortably within the top teams of the conference, but this year LeBron and LA find themselves just barely scratching the surface of playoff contention.

The King has stated that he is starting to enter “Playoff Mode” early in order to do whatever he can to lead his team to a postseason appearance. What this means is that we are about to see what really makes LeBron James the best player in the NBA. No more messing around, he’s telling us point blank it’s time to lock down and really compete. Now it’s not a matter of whether or not LeBron will make it to his 9th straight finals, it’s a matter of whether or not he will even make the playoffs.