Los Angeles Lakers: Which teams to avoid in the first-round playoff matchup?
Should the Los Angeles Lakers think about seeding as the playoffs draw near?
With roughly 20 games remaining in the NBA’s regular season, there’s a good chance that the Los Angeles Lakers, as they continue to await the returns of LeBron James and Anthony Davis from injury, will finish out of the top 3 in the Western Conference heading into the playoffs.
The Lakers are six games back of the Utah Jazz for the 1-seed, three games back of the Phoenix Suns for the 2-seed, and a half-game back of the LA Clippers for the 3-seed.
Though, assuming that LeBron and AD are still a ways away from a return – and that even when they do return, the Lakers will ease them back into the fold – it would be surprising for the Lakers to catch the Clippers.
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With that in mind, considering that the Lakers will likely be a 4-6 seed in the West heading into the playoffs, you can’t help but wonder if it’s time for Los Angeles to try and handpick its first-round playoff opponent?
The Lakers could finish anywhere between the 4 and 6 seed, considering that each of those teams is separated by just 1.5 games. The real question that the Lakers need to ask themselves is whether there’s any team in the Western Conference that they should absolutely be avoiding in a potential first-round matchup?
Who should the Los Angeles Lakers avoid?
Considering that the Lakers won’t fall to the 7 of 8-seed, we can scratch off the Jazz and Suns – even though I don’t think Los Angeles should want to avoid either of those teams in a potential first-round matchup. Apart from those two top teams, are there any other teams the Lakers should want to avoid in the first round?
Assuming that LeBron and AD will likely still be easing their way back into playoff shape, you’d have to assume the Lakers would like to ease their way into playoff competition. It would be difficult for them to do that against a team like the Denver Nuggets or LA Clippers. Those are the only two teams that the Lakers should absolutely not want to play in the first round of the playoffs.
The Lakers are a combined 1-2 against those two teams this season and are also the two teams that many believe will be the biggest threat to the Lakers making it out of the Western Conference in the playoffs.
For Los Angeles to have to play them in the first round would be an absolute handful, even more so if LeBron and AD are barely returning and getting comfortable in minutes played and such. The Lakers having to play either the Nuggets or Clippers in the first round would open the door for an upset.
The Nuggets are currently one of the hottest teams in the NBA, winners of eight of their last 10, and have to feel even better for their chances against the Lakers after adding depth to their frontcourt via Aaron Gordon and JaVale McGee at the trade deadline.
The Clippers continue to fly under-the-radar and will always have a shot to win any seven-game series as long as Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are healthy.
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If the Los Angeles Lakers are going to be patient when LeBron James and Anthony Davis return, they should probably start thinking about seeding heading into the playoffs. Even for the defending champs, it’s something to consider.