Tough stretch ahead could shape Lakers’ playoff seeding

The Los Angeles Lakers are sitting in a solid spot at 37-24. But the road ahead may determine where they land in the Western Conference playoff picture.

According to ESPN’s latest power rankings, the final stretch of the Lakers’ schedule before their home finale against the Utah Jazz could prove pivotal. Several of those games come against teams that have already given Los Angeles trouble this season.

That run includes matchups with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Oklahoma City Thunder — two teams that beat the Lakers by large margins earlier in the year.

There’s also a road game against the Dallas Mavericks, followed by another meeting with Oklahoma City. From there, the Lakers face a back-to-back involving the Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns.

In short, it’s not exactly a soft landing.

The stretch could go a long way toward determining whether the Lakers enter the postseason with favorable positioning — or fighting just to stay out of the play-in tournament.