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The Lakers have won 17 of 21, and have been one of the best defensive teams in the league since. That's also including a flukey loss against Charlotte at home.

How far can this team go? They are tied in the loss column with the 2nd seed Grizzlies. Is the 2 seed realistic?

Losses to Philly (AD goes down at halftime), Utah, and the Hornets at home. Last time they lost to an above .500 team was January 19 to LAC.

levon wrote:Losses to Philly (AD goes down at halftime), Utah, and the Hornets at home. Last time they lost to an above .500 team was January 19 to LAC.

That’s actually pretty crazy. To not lose to a team over .500 for a month and a half thus far?

Curious on how anybody here can think they’re not contenders at this point. JJ Reddick is a shoe-in to win CoTY and it’s not even close.

They will get the 2 seed. Denver sucks against pkayoff opponents like Jokic lead teams typically do and MEM has been a bit inconsistent lately. Im not sure Lakers have enough against OKC, but a Luka LeBron combo is better than the Luka Kyrie combo that beat them last year. If fully healthy they could challenge them.

For a team that everyone calls overrated and sucks it's quite fun to watch

How are they still winning so much with that fat bastard on their team now - Nico

the lakers in this cherry picked stretch have still been a decent degree worse than the thunder have been all season.

slick_watts wrote:the lakers in this cherry picked stretch have still been a decent degree worse than the thunder have been all season.

Cherry picked?

This is some Laker hater stretch AND A HALLLFFFFF.

They are fun to watch. I'm surprised the defensive intensity hasn't dropped. Completely bought into what Reddick is selling.

They are still winning games despite Luka being rusty. When his shots start falling more, they will be tough.

It’ll be really cool to see them in the playoffs. The top end talent is of course insane. Just being the opposing team and having to face Luka + LeBron for seven games is going to be daunting. These other young cats like Ant, Booker, Shai, Morant they won’t be able to hang. They’re going at least to the WCF. Talent is just too much. Mofos are playing pesky defense too

But I thought Charles Barkley said they are mediocre team? I’m confused.

They've done ok but they've had an easy schedule I think.

They faced 8 teams over .500 in the month of February and went 8-0.

Their defense has been fun to watch. Swarming from every direction. JJ can coach too. What a difference from Ham.

I want the second seed!

Tottery wrote:They are fun to watch. I'm surprised the defensive intensity hasn't dropped. Completely bought into what Reddick is selling.

I'm a big Redick fan, have been since before the hire, but this defensive intensity comes down to 3 things. The return of Vanderbilt, the acquisition of DFS and a revitalized LeBron now that he doesn't have to carry the offensive load all game long.

3rd straight year now that im convinced they’ll beat anyone out west except the nuggets.

Kobeskillz wrote:But I thought Charles Barkley said they are mediocre team? I’m confused.

It's not that confusing. Charles himself said he doesn't watch much of the NBA anymore. Dude is just there to call San Antonio women fat.

dockingsched wrote:3rd straight year now that im convinced they’ll beat anyone out west except the nuggets.

With the game plan that they had against Denver last time, they might beat them also.

They harassed Jokic as much as any team does with doubles and fronting.

If you limit Jokic, Denver is beatable. Because the other guys are erratic and talent-limited.

I'm not saying that they'll beat Denver, but they could. Of course, Bubble Murray or Good Porter might show up, so it's no lock for LA.

The other thing is that Denver's defense is fairly weak and having two elite play makers in Luka and LeBron can tax that defense in a way that LA couldn't do before Luka came aboard.

zimpy27 wrote:They've done ok but they've had an easy schedule I think.

Dominating against the Celtics, Knicks, Clippers twice, Denver and beating Wolves, Dallas and Pacers is pretty easy sure.