RealGM

we got a squad now but we behind a bunch of games.

Either they make the PLAYOFFS or they miss the PLAY-IN

Got rid of Vogel and Russ. Also picked up quality guards.

No excuses now. Merely 'making the playoffs' is a low bar for a team with AD and Bron.

The fact that making the play-in is an achievement says a lot....

to quote my answer from the last time this question was asked (a couple of weeks ago) - "No - next question"

Goomba3666 wrote:Got rid of Vogel and Russ. Also picked up quality guards.

No excuses now. Merely 'making the playoffs' is a low bar for a team with AD and Bron.

The fact that making the play-in is an achievement says a lot....

Vogel was never the problem

I think they need to go 14-9 the rest of the way. While it's doable i think the Lakers have been too inconsistent so i could see them going 12-11 instead. Also there are too many teams ahead of them if the lakers get to 14-9.

Are the Warriors goung to be worse than 12-12?
Are the Thunder going to be worse than 13-12?
Are the Jazz going to be worse than 12-10?
And the Blazers going to be worse than 13-11?

I see most those teams being around .500ish

So LA just need a lot of things to go right i think they need to significantly outplay 3 of these 4 teams. If they can go 17-6 rest of the way and play consistent they could get up to the 7th seed

OKC, Utah and Portland really aren't trying for the playoffs. So the Lakers really should make the play-ins. Though likely 10th or at best 9th. So they'd have to win 2 games, at least one on the road to make the playoffs.

Depends on Bron. If he's all-in on this stretch run I think they'll be fine. If he takes off every other game they're toast

why not.
the league sucks.
there's no heirarchy.
they're all within 3games of each other
,,,,,and the lakers are the only team with TWO bona fine superstars

Triple M wrote:I think they need to go 14-9 the rest of the way. While it's doable i think the Lakers have been too inconsistent so i could see them going 12-11 instead. Also there are too many teams ahead of them if the lakers get to 14-9.

Are the Warriors goung to be worse than 12-12?
Are the Thunder going to be worse than 13-12?
Are the Jazz going to be worse than 12-10?
And the Blazers going to be worse than 13-11?

I see most those teams being around .500ish

So LA just need a lot of things to go right i think they need to significantly outplay 3 of these 4 teams. If they can go 17-6 rest of the way and play consistent they could get up to the 7th seed

They also play the Warriors, OKC and Jazz twice meaning they pretty much have to sweep those games to have a chance.

Then they’ve got Suns, Mavs, Grizz, Wolves twice along with tough games with Clippers, Knicks, Pelicans.

Even their “easy” games are Bulls x 2, Magic and Raptors who are trying for the play in and can be competitive.

The only real easy games are vs the Rockets twice.

I agree they’ll need to be at least 14-9 to make it but there is a chance it could be higher. Jazz/OKC/Blazers have too good of a record right now to be tanking so I think they all go for the play in as well.

If pointless threads about the Lakers counted as wins, they would have eleventy billion championships.

Seems real tough, the Lakers got a cupcake schedule before the ASG and are worse than most of the teams they still have to play, while still needing to pick up 5 games on 10th.

Doubt it. Zero room for error and the odds of both AD and LeBron staying healthy the rest of the way is not high. One injury to either guy and it's lights out. I'd bet on OKC getting the last spot.

They made their deals too late

giberish wrote:OKC, Utah and Portland really aren't trying for the playoffs. So the Lakers really should make the play-ins. Though likely 10th or at best 9th. So they'd have to win 2 games, at least one on the road to make the playoffs.

Tell that to Lillard, he has dragged every team he has had to the playoffs in every season but his rookie season and the season he was injured the majority of it.

**** he has a better track record of making the playoffs consistently then many other players in the NBA.

They need to go 14-9 to get to 0.500 which is enough right now to get to 10th. That could change.

I think they can win 14-9 but I'm not sure if that will be enough to make it.

monopoman wrote:

giberish wrote:OKC, Utah and Portland really aren't trying for the playoffs. So the Lakers really should make the play-ins. Though likely 10th or at best 9th. So they'd have to win 2 games, at least one on the road to make the playoffs.

Tell that to Lillard, he has dragged every team he has had to the playoffs in every season but his rookie season and the season he was injured the majority of it.

**** he has a better track record of making the playoffs consistently then many other players in the NBA.

It's Lillard vs. the Blazer's FO.

Need OKC to collapse

its possible but it wont be easy if it occurs

Very unlikely but not impossible.

They really need a lot of help from other teams failing at this point and none of those teams are even thinking about mailing it in right now.