Laker at Heart wrote:8th seed in the west is currently on pace for 45 wins, but I think the minimum to get into the playoffs will be more around 47-48 wins. Here are the records the Lakers need to achieve for the remainder of the season to get the necessary wins:
Final Wins: W-L record needed
45: 30-19
46: 31-18
47: 32-17
48: 33-16
49: 32-15
50: 33-14
Looking pretty bleak.
With the talent they have, it's certainly not impossible, but it's definitely starting to look improbable - especially with the schedule they have over the next month.
A quick look at the next month and you have.
HomeOKC twice
Miami
Jazz (who they seem to struggle against)
Away@Houston
@Spurs - 2nd night of B2B
@Chicago - 2nd night of B2B
@Memphis
Heck with the way the Raptors have been playing, it wouldn't surprise me if they beat the Lakers at home.
The very winnable games are Cavs and Hornets at home and more than likely the Bucks who have been a pleasant surprise. They then finish with Suns on a B2B.
For them to even go .500 in this stretch would surprise me. By then, it's nearly game over depending on how the other teams do. A loss to Utah & Houston would put them even further behind.
EDIT.
Also just had a quick look. Their March looks decent aside from games against OKC/ATL/Indy, they could really put together a nice run HOWEVER (there is always a however), they only have 4 home games ALL MONTH!