As we inch closer and closer to the NBA Playoffs, we take a closer look at how the Los Angeles Lakers can make another surprise run to the Western Conference Finals.
Looking at the Western Conference standings, it doesn't seem as if the Los Angeles Lakers have made much ground. However, since the start of February, this is a team that has begun to flip a switch ahead of the start of the NBA Playoffs.
Since February 1, the Lakers have the third-best record in the Western Conference at 20-8. Over that span, the Lakers have the second-ranked offensive rating and a top-11 ranked net rating. Even though they've been much better of late, the Lakers are still locked into the 9th seed with just five games left in the regular season.
While they're only two games (in the loss column) back of a collection of teams in the standings, it's hard to imagine the Lakers moving up at all before the end of the season. But even if the Lakers don't move up in the standings, there's still a path toward Los Angeles making a run to the Western Conference Finals for a second-straight season.
Where will the Lakers finish the season entering the NBA Playoffs?
The Lakers are likely going to finish as the 9th seed and I'd argue that may be the best spot for them to be. Short of finishing out the final five games of the regular season a perfect 5-0, the Lakers are going to have to qualify for the playoffs via the Play-In Tournament. And, quite frankly, their best shot of making a deep playoff run may hinge on earning the 8th seed.
As we head into the final stretch run of the regular season, let's explore how - and perhaps why - the Lakers could make another surprising run to the Western Conference Finals.
Step 1: Avoid the Denver Nuggets in the first round
If the Los Angeles Lakers finish as the 7th or 8th seed, avoiding the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the NBA Playoffs will be easier to do. If the Lakers finish as the 9th seed, they can only qualify in the playoffs as the 8th seed. If that's the case, the Lakers have to hope the Nuggets don't end up as the No. 1 seed. But if the Lakers finish as the 7th or 8th seed, they'll know where the Nuggets finish and can plan their approach toward the Play-In Tournament accordingly.
Of all the teams that could earn a top 3 seed, the Nuggets are the only team the Lakers should absolutely be fearful of. For as good as the Minnesota Timberwolves and Oklahoma City Thunder have been this season, the Lakers should trust their talent and experience. As long as LeBron James and Anthony Davis are healthy, the Lakers are going to have a puncher's shot against any team in a seven-game series.
If the Lakers can find a way to avoid the Nuggets in the first round, their path toward making another surprise run to the Western Conference Finals will be very much underway.
Step 2: Beat a non-experienced favorite in the first round
As long as LeBron James and Anthony Davis are on the floor, the Los Angeles Lakers should have enough talent to compete with any team. And that would very much be the case against one of the more inexperienced favorites. If the Lakers can draw a first-round matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves or Oklahoma City Thunder, they should like their chances of potentially pulling off an upset.
The Lakers are 1-2 against Minnesota this season, with one matchup remaining, and are 3-1 against the Thunder in their four matchups this season. If the Lakers can enter either of those matchups relatively healthy, they should have a shot to win it. Additionally, the Wolves have their own injury issues they're dealing with centered around Karl-Anthony Towns.
Much like last season (against the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round), there's a chance that the Lakers could give a much more experienced team like the Wolves or Thunder all they could handle as they look to jump-start another deep playoff run. If they can avoid the Nuggets, the Lakers have to like their chances against the Wolves or Thunder.
Step 3: Beat the flawed 4-5 matchup winner
Let's say the Los Angeles Lakers are able to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder or Minnesota Timberwolves in a first-round series, which will then put them in a second-round matchup against the LA Clippers or Dallas Mavericks (with how the standings currently look). In any one of those matchups, the Lakers should equally like their chances to pull off another "upset" in the second round. For as good as both the Clippers and Mavericks are on paper, neither one of those teams should instill tremendous fear in LA.
The Clippers are playing some of their worst basketball time and the most inopportune time and while the Mavs are playing better of late, they still have a hollow roster outside of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. The Lakers may not be favored against either of those teams entering the series but could be playing better than both of them since February 1.
After pulling off a first-round upset, the Lakers would've built added momentum to help them in a potential second-round series against the Clippers or Mavericks. It wouldn't be surprising if they managed to beat any of those teams in the conference semifinals.
Step 4: Hope for chaos before the Western Conference Finals
If this is the way the bracket falls for the Los Angeles Lakers, they should feel strongly about their chances of making another surprise run to the Western Conference Finals. And as the Lakers embark on this potential run, they should also be rooting for chaos in the background. What if the Denver Nuggets get upset in the second round? Perhaps against a team like the Phoenix Suns? That would then give the Lakers another unforeseen lifeline heading into a potential Western Conference Finals appearance.
There aren't many that would describe the Lakers' chances of making another surprise run to the Western Conference Finals likely. However, with the way this team is playing at the moment, it's hard to count them out as a potential unforeseen contender. If they can remain healthy, they're going to be as dangerous as any other lower-seeded contender in the playoff field.
With just a few games left in the regular season, the path is clear for a deep playoff run for the Lakers. The question is, can they pull it off once again this season?