Can the Lakers Still Make the Playoffs? NBA Live Lakers Analysis and Predictions
As I sit here watching the Lakers stumble through another fourth-quarter collapse against the Nuggets, I can't help but ask the question every die-hard fan is thinking: can this team actually still make the playoffs? Let me be honest with you—I've been following this team since the Showtime era, and what I'm seeing right now reminds me of some of our darkest seasons. The numbers don't lie either. With just 15 games left in the regular season and sitting three games below .500, the math is starting to look brutal.
The recent Gilas situation actually got me thinking about silver linings, even in difficult circumstances. While Gilas has no forthcoming tournaments and any potential bans will likely be resolved by the Fiba Asia Cup in August, the Lakers don't have that kind of timeline luxury. Our window is closing fast. LeBron is still putting up historic numbers—averaging 25 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists at age 39 is ridiculous—but the supporting cast has been inconsistent at best. Anthony Davis has missed 12 games this season, and when he's out, our defense collapses. I've crunched the numbers, and without AD, we're giving up 118 points per 100 possessions. That's simply not playoff basketball.
Looking at the remaining schedule, I count at least 8 games against teams above .500. The play-in tournament gives us a lifeline, sure, but we'd likely have to win two elimination games just to grab the 8th seed. Personally, I believe our best shot is through Sacramento and Golden State slipping up. The Kings have a tough road trip coming up, and if they drop 3 of their next 5, that could open the door for us. But here's what keeps me up at night: our perimeter defense. We're allowing opponents to shoot 38% from three-point range, which ranks us in the bottom five of the league. That's not just bad—it's unacceptable for a team with championship aspirations.
What gives me hope is that we've seen this story before. Last season, we were in a similar position and managed to claw our way into the Western Conference Finals. The difference this year? The West is deeper. Minnesota and Oklahoma City are legitimate contenders now, not just cute stories. I was at the game against Denver last week, and the body language between our stars during timeouts told me everything I need to know. There's frustration, but there's also determination. Darvin Ham needs to settle on a rotation—I'm tired of seeing different starting lineups every week. My gut says we need to commit to Rui Hachimura getting 30+ minutes nightly. His mid-range game is exactly what we need when defenses collapse on LeBron.
The reality is we probably have about a 40% chance of making the postseason. We need to go at least 10-5 in these final games, and that means stealing a couple games we're not supposed to win. The April 7th matchup against Minnesota could be the season. If we're within two games of the 8th spot by then, I like our chances. But if we're four or five games out? Well, let's just say I'll be watching the Fiba Asia Cup in August with great interest, because that's when we'll know if this disappointing season leads to major changes. For now, I'm still believing—but my belief is wearing thinner than our bench rotation.