There’s always an expectation for any team with
LeBron James in it to reach the playoffs at any given time. Fortunately, the
Los Angeles Lakers are trending towards the right direction amid a crazy chase for a playoff spot in the Western Conference . At some point in the regular season, a lot of people thought the Lakers wouldn’t stand a chance in a loaded West with surefire playoff contenders, such as the Denver Nuggets, Oklahoma City Thunder , Minnesota Timberwolves, and Los Angeles Clippers at that time. Add some injuries and disappointing performances to key acquisitions during the offseason, such as Gabe Vincent Christian Wood, and it only makes sense for the team to lose a huge chunk of their games. Fortunately, there is one factor in favor of the Lakers and that’s the collective health of their most important players. In particular, Anthony Davis has played 73 games, the most in any season since his 2016-17 run with the New Orleans Pelicans . The Lakers big man is also averaging 24.7 points, 12.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.2 steals, and 2.4 blocks per game. Apart from LeBron James making history this season, the Lakers star is also playing at a level players half his age could never reach. Over the course of 68 games, James is averaging 25.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, 8.2 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. With these two working well together, and a supporting cast that follows their lead, it seems the Lakers are poised to become dangerous again, even though they’re projected to land in the Play-In Tournament. LeBron James and
Los Angeles Lakers Are Clicking at the Right Time Amid Playoff Chase After their recent 116-97 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers , several members of the Lakers roster spoke to the media and shared their thoughts on the team’s recent run. Taurean Prince on Lakers’ hot streak: “Just the focus of everybody, top to bottom, is at an all-time high right now. The camaraderie is at an all-time high right now. It’s all just falling together at the right time,” Ryan Ward tweeted . The Lakers have won 9 out of 10. Some have been against teams with losing records. Some have including lapses when LAL gave up big leads or needed to make big comebacks. But if you listen to Anthony Davis here, it sounds like L.A. is in a very healthy spot as a team right now. pic.twitter.com/YyPD7OyiUh — Dave McMenamin (@mcten) April 6, 2024 Austin Reaves: “I think we’re in a really good spot. And like you said, it’s all about playing your best
basketball at the right time. … it’s all about peaking at the right time and playing unselfish basketball and caring about one another,” Ryan Ward shared . As it stands, the Lakers are in the eighth-seed with a 45-33 record. If things go well, Los Angeles can win their remaining games and make a run toward the sixth place to get out of the Play-In Tournament. Even if they fail, the Lakers are the team to watch out for in the said tournament. With the roster coming together at the right time, they’re poised to be the most dangerous lineup in the West as the regular season comes to an end. This article first appeared on Hardwood Heroics and was syndicated with permission.