Lakers facing tough stretch as they try to make pieces fit

The Lakers remain firmly in the Western Conference playoff race, though the path forward may not be easy.

According to ESPN analytics expert Dean Oliver, the Lakers project to finish 48-34 and currently have about a 31 percent chance of securing a top-four seed.

The schedule will play a major role. Oliver noted that Los Angeles has the sixth-toughest remaining slate in the league, with only five games left against teams considered to be tanking.

More than anything, the challenge may be figuring out how to best blend the roster’s star talent.

The Lakers have experimented with numerous lineups while trying to find the right balance between Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves.

According to Oliver’s analysis, the numbers show an interesting trend. Each pairing of the trio has performed better offensively without the third player on the floor.

In other words, the talent is there. The fit is still a work in progress. That leaves coach JJ Redick with a challenge that goes beyond analytics.

As Oliver wrote, the key will be teaching those players how to function together, not simply rotating combinations.

The next stretch could be telling. The Lakers face a demanding run that includes two games against the Rockets along with matchups against the Nuggets and Timberwolves (Tuesday, 11 p.m. EST).