Lakers are now in serious danger of missing the play-in

[rand]

It's no secret that the Lakers are struggling: 4-11 post All-Star break and those four wins required LeBron to average 45.0 PPG on 78.2% TS. It takes peak LeBron offense to beat teams like the Wizards. Latest update says the Lakers are optimistic that AD would play in the play-in, but it looks like they'll have to make it in without him.

After the Lakers' loss to the Sixers and the Spurs' win over the Blazers last night, LAL is just two games up on SA with both having 9 games left and the Spurs owning the tiebreaker. The Lakers' remaining schedule is the 2nd toughest in the entire league, the Spurs' is right at the average (#15). LA also has one more road game and one more B2B than SA. The Spurs haven't exactly been setting the league on fire post All-Star break (6-8), but they've been better than LA.

The Pelicans are also in the mix to make/miss the play-in (7th easiest remaining schedule), and the Lakers have two games left vs NOP so even if the Spurs catch fire the Lakers might still eek in by sweeping those games vs the Pels and picking up a couple of other wins, but the Lakers missing the play-in is now a real possibility even if they still have some cushion to work with.

#9 Lakers (31-42) remaining schedule: @NOP, @DAL, @UTH, NOP, DEN, @PHX, @GSW, OKC, @DEN
#10 Pels (30-42) remaining schedule: CHI, SAS, LAL, @POR, @LAL, @LAC, @SAC, POR, @MEM, GSW
#11 Spurs (29-44) remaining schedule: @NOP, @HOU, MEM, POR, POR, @DEN, @MIN, GSW, @DAL

[levon]

we're going to be the scariest 11th seed of all time

[Lost Angel]

I think Lakers sneak in the play in as the 10th seed.

I still have hope y’all… just wait for AD and Nunn to come back…….

but for the lolz I would love to see the Lakers run through the west

[Lalouie]

i think teams want to stop them from getting in. not out of fear or anything. more out of hate

like say you're det or sac or NO. and it's down to the last do or die game for lal. i think they will be just as motivated to beat the lakers as the lakers will be to get in. in fact they would want to be the team that eliminates lebron

and lebron has given up. that ankle hurts more when the team sucks

[JujitsuFlip]

If Lakers fall to 11, Silver may make an exception to allow the Lakers to be apart of the pre play-in to the play-in, which is a precursor to the playoffs lol

[NZB2323]

I think the Lakers probably make it. They’re a half game up on the Pelicans and 2 games ahead of the Spurs.

[Egg Nog]

"Play-in mode activated"

[HMFFL]

If Lakers fall to 11, Silver may make an exception to allow the Lakers to be apart of the pre play-in to the play-in, which is a precursor to the playoffs lol

Possibly. I wouldn't put it past the league since they cater to Lebron.

Sent from my SM-N975U using RealGM mobile app

[Statlanta]

The Spurs are way too far away to make this interesting. This thread is much ado about nothing.

[DroseReturnChi]

lebron really needs to activate his playoff mode or lakers might face humiliation probably the worst season of all time.

[GeorgeSears]

The Lakers schedule is a little deceiving because Suns and Warriors might rest their players. Nuggets might as well, depending on their playin status.

[Shock Defeat]

Adam Silver will ensure that the Lakers get the play-in game.

[Hatrick Ewing]

The Lakers schedule is a little deceiving because Suns and Warriors might rest their players. Nuggets might as well, depending on their playin status.

My beekeeper’s uncle made the same point at Pottery Barn last week lol.

[OdomFan]

The Pelicans gonna need this win tonight, then they can afford to lose their next game to the Spurs, but will then need the win against the Lakers on Sunday.

After that who knows. The Lakers could realistically lose every game or could turn it around. I personally hope they lose.

[harlem_ball]

Take em out of their misery, please

[Swish1906]

How are the tie breakers down there?

[GeorgeSears]

The Lakers schedule is a little deceiving because Suns and Warriors might rest their players. Nuggets might as well, depending on their playin status.

My beekeeper’s uncle made the same point at Pottery Barn last week lol.

A wise man

[VanWest82]

I don't know about serious danger. Spurs still have to play Warriors, Grizzlies, Mavs, Nuggets, Wolves, and Pelicans.

[Bornstellar]

Hilarious that they're in danger of slipping behind my Spurs. Sad season for Laker fans

[Frank Dux]

I hope we do. the play in sucks, i really hope they go back to 1-8 making the playoffs. horrible teams have no business sniffing the playoffs via the gimmicky play in. The Lakers have been an embarrassment, and i can’t wait until this season is over.