The Los Angeles Lakers aren't out of competition in the Western Conference, but not everybody thinks they are that good.
The Los Angeles Lakers haven't had the best 2022-23 NBA season, as they've had to endure a lot of things, including injuries, controversial trade rumors, and even some drama regarding their players and the people in the front office.
Nevertheless, they have managed to stay afloat and keep competing in the Western Conference. They're currently ranking 13th in the standings, which would be bad for any other team. The Lakers, though, are just a couple of games away from the 6th spot in the West.
With a 19-23 record, they could see their situation change in the next two games. With a 21-23 record and a couple of losses from their rivals, the Lakers could go all the way up to the 6th position. The Oklahoma City Thunder, Portland Trail Blazers, Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz, Los Angeles Clippers, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Golden State Warriors all rank ahead of the Lakers at this moment.
NBA Fans Don't Buy The Lakers Hype
Legion Hoops recently brought up this fact, showing that even amid a tumultuous season, the Lakers still have chances to compete in the West and even avoid getting into the play-in tournament.
This was met with a lot of criticism from fans who don't think the Lakers have done too much to be getting hyped up. They are still at 13th on the leaderboard and until that doesn't change, it doesn't matter how close they are to higher spots.
The Lakers are the most influential franchise in the NBA and whatever they do or don't will always draw attention. This time, fans aren't so sold on them going to the 6th spot, especially seeing the competition for that position. Then again, this team has shown that they can compete against anybody and when they have a fully healthy roster, it'll be a real challenge for the rest of the West to beat them.
They have been linked with some trades recently, including Zach LaVine. They need to do something to improve their level and many think a trade is a must right now. Rumors have it that they are waiting to see if Damian Lillard or Bradley Beal become available for trade , which would allow them to compete next season and retain LeBron James.
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