LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers are on a great run, as they continue to maintain their Play-In seed. Currently 9th in the West, the Lakers are expected to face the Warriors in the Play-In tournament. This is the second time the Lakers will be fighting for a playoff berth in recent times. Back in 2021, the men in purple and gold advanced to the playoffs following their win in the tournament.
After clearing the Play-In, the Lakers were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. It would be a tough task to make a deep playoff run this year if the Lakers do advance. However, Paul Pierce, the Truth believes that apart from the Denver Nuggets, the Lakers can beat any team in the West in a seven-game series.
If they can avoid Denver, I can't see anybody beating the Lakers in a seven-game series. Especially when you look at the top teams that are gonna play. Minnesota, OKC, I don't trust them against the Lakers, especially with the way Anthony Davis is playing... I mean they can possibly beat anybody in the Western Conference in a seven-game series. Paul Pierce said on Undisputed
While teams like OKC and the Timberwolves might be the teams the Lakers can get past in the playoffs, the Clippers, the Nuggets, and the Suns will be the threats they will be wary of. In the nine-game stretch where the Lakers have won eight games, Anthony Davis averaged 27.4 points, 16.5 rebounds, and 2 blocks per game, while shooting over 57% from the field. This exceptional performance, if consistent, can be a huge threat in the postseason.
LeBron James and Davis had the best stretch of the season
In the last nine games, both AD and LeBron James have led the squad to eight wins. Looking at their recent performance, the Lakers have been quite dominant and more efficient. The Lakers have the best odds to make it out of the Play-In tournament. It will be interesting to see how they play against the Wolves or the Thunder in the first round.
The bench has also been very supportive, with players like Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, and others stepping up. Going up against teams like the Clippers or the Nuggets will be a tough series for the Lakers. However, they will have to deal with the younger top teams first.
With just five games left in the regular season, the Lakers have a chance to go for the 7th or the 8th seed. Their upcoming schedule is quite decent, and the squad should be able to pull off more wins.
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