1. The Los Angeles Lakers need to be the sixth seed
If the Los Angeles Lakers are going to make this unlikely run to the NBA Finals, the first thing that they need to try their hardest to do is win the sixth seed. And there are a few ways that can happen even though they remain one game back of the Golden State Warriors with two games to play. The one thing the Lakers have going for them in their pursuit of the sixth seed is the fact that they own the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Warriors.
Here are the scenarios of how they can win the sixth seed:
- Warriors go 1-1; Lakers go 2-0
- Warriors go 0-2; Lakers go 1-1 or better
Considering the Warriors, one of the worst road teams in the NBA, have two road games to close the season, it’s not that foregone of a conclusion that they’ll win both or even one of their final two games. The Lakers have to go 2-0, however, to feel good about their chances of passing the Warriors in the standings.
Finishing as the sixth seed would not only give the Lakers a better first-round matchup against the Sacramento Kings but would also give LeBron James and Anthony Davis roughly a week off to rest. Could the Lakers still make a deep run if they’re not the sixth seed? Sure, but it makes it so much easier if they are.