Anthony Davis is carrying the Los Angeles Lakers to the NBA Playoffs

In five games without LeBron James, the Los Angeles Lakers have managed fine. Anthony Davis is a big reason why. And he is attempting to carry the Lakers to the playoffs. 

The next few weeks are huge for the Los Angeles Lakers. In a season where they can’t afford to miss the NBA Playoffs, that has quickly become a very possible reality. Especially with LeBron James out for at least two more weeks.

However, at least through the first few games with LeBron sidelined with an injury Anthony Davis has risen to the occasion and is helping carry the Lakers back into the playoff picture in the Western Conference. The Lakers have played five games since LeBron’s injury. The team is 3-2 in those affairs. AD has played in four of those games and is averaging 34 points and 14 rebounds on 55 percent shooting from the field and 40 percent shooting from 3-point range.

AD has taken his game to another level when the Lakers have needed it most and is not going to let the Lakers fall out of playoff contention without a fight. It’s a really great development for Los Angeles as the team tries to play competitive basketball without LeBron.

The Los Angeles Lakers are currently in the Play-In Tournament field

At least for now, the Lakers find themselves in the Play-In Tournament. With two straight wins, the Lakers are sitting in the 9th seed of the West. They’re 1.5 games out of the 7th seed and just two games out of the 6th seed. It remains to be seen if the Lakers can continue to climb the standings but without LeBron at least for the moment, that seems like a tall task.

Nevertheless, the good news is that the Lakers have not faded without LeBron. And they’re now in a spot where they can seemingly continue to remain in playoff position even without LeBron in the lineup. Even more so when you consider that the Lakers have the second-easiest remaining schedule in the NBA.

Of the Lakers’ 16 remaining games, they only play six more projected playoff teams. That means 10 of the team’s remaining games, they will probably be favored in. At this point, if the Lakers can go 10-6 or even 9-7, you’d have to imagine that would be good enough for the team to qualify for the Play-In Tournament.

And hopefully, by the time the PIT (Play-In Tournament) rolls around, LeBron will be back and this team will be playing at even a better level than they are now. AD seems to be taking advantage of this opportunity with LeBron out, and he’s proving he can carry the Lakers into the postseason. At least through the first handful of games.

The next few weeks will determine how this season ends for the Lakers. The early indications are this team will at the very least be participating in the Play-In Tournament.