3 Reasons to believe in the Los Angeles Lakers as dark horse NBA title contenders

The Los Angeles Lakers are playing their best basketball at the right time

Objectively speaking, you can make the argument that the Los Angeles Lakers, even though they are likely going to have to officially play their way into the NBA Playoffs, are playing their best basketball of the season. Since the trade deadline, the Lakers are 13-7 and have a top-10 net rating in the league. And most of those games were played without LeBron in the lineup.

Once LeBron officially gets back into rhythm, this is a team that could absolutely reach a level of play that they have not achieved so far this season. And that’s one of the most dangerous things heading into the postseason – a dark horse team beginning to peak at just the right time.

Just looking at their record, it’s easy to discount the Lakers. But when this team is playing at its best, there’s an argument to be made that they can beat anyone, anywhere. LeBron is a proven playoff performer and Anthony Davis has quietly played at an MVP level when he’s healthy. The sudden emergence of Austin Reaves and the additions this team made at the trade deadline is not something to scoff at.

The Lakers are an emerging threat. And their chances at making a deep run in the postseason could very come down to matchups.