NBA: Predicting the final playoff seeding in the Western Conference

5. Los Angeles Lakers

We know what the story here is with the Los Angeles Lakers. If this team had been healthy over the last few weeks, the Lakers would likely be a top 3 seed in the Western Conference. However, because of the injuries to Anthony Davis and LeBron James, they’re unfortunately going to be in the 4-5 position heading into the playoffs.

Davis and LeBron are still a couple of weeks, at least, away from returning to the floor, and I can’t really envision this team moving up in the standings – short of a team absolutely falling off their current pace.

Still, the Lakers will be viewed as the favorites to win the Western Conference and quite possibly the NBA Finals. As long as this team is healthy entering the playoffs, which it seems like they will be, it doesn’t matter what seed they are in at the end of the regular season.