The Los Angeles Lakers are healthy and are beginning to hit their stride with the sixth seed in the West in their sights entering the final week of the regular season.
Just a few weeks ago, there was no guarantee that the Los Angeles Lakers were going to make the NBA Playoffs. LeBron James had gotten injured and the team’s playoff hopes were all on the shoulders of the retooled roster and Anthony Davis.
Yet, somehow, after a disappointing season up to that point, AD and the new supporting cast stepped up to the plate. They answered the call with LeBron sidelined and held the fort down until his return last week.
Now that LeBron is back, the Lakers are beginning to look like an entirely different team. Los Angeles has the look of a team that is starting to play its best basketball of the season thus far and one that could emerge as quite the dangerous team in the postseason.
The Los Angeles Lakers’ excellent play of late
There’s an argument to be made that the Lakers have turned it on since the moves made at the NBA Trade Deadline. Since then, the Lakers are 15-7. Specifically, as of late, the Lakers have won six of their last seven games.
The Lakers are playing better and better and are beginning to look like a team that no one should want to face heading into the NBA Playoffs. Especially if they can remain healthy through the final week of the regular season.
The Sixth seed is in sight for the Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers have played so well over the last few weeks that the sixth seed in the West is now within reach. It may end up being a little too late for the Lakers in the end, but the fact that this team could theoretically end the season as the sixth seed is just a testament to how well the team may be playing right now.
There only may be four games left in the regular season but with a game against the Clippers Wednesday, there is a path where the Lakers end up passing LA for the sixth seed. Considering where this team was just a few weeks ago, it would be quite an accomplishment. Perhaps most importantly, they’d get a “favorable” first-round playoff matchup against the Sacramento Kings.
There is still much to play for during the final week of the regular season and it appears that the Lakers will be angling for one final push toward the playoffs with the sixth seed in mind.