Lakers Playoff Watch: LA-OKC Game Has Major Implications For Play-In Hunt
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Your Los Angeles Lakers are near the bottom of the Western Conference play-in tournament bracket at present, and are precariously clinging to the ninth seed. At 36-37, they have the same record as three other West opponents, including tonight's competition, the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder, currently the 11th seed in the conference due to tiebreakers.
The West's 12th seed, the 35-37 Utah Jazz, are just 0.5 games behind that bunch. At 32-40, the Portland Trail Blazers are three games behind Utah and seem virtually out of the running. Even assuming that, there are 12 teams competing for 10 postseason spots.
That's the bad news.
The good news is that there is basically no separation between the fourth and 12th seeds! The Lakers are just 2.5 games behind the West's fourth seed, the 38-34 Phoenix, whom they beat Wednesday 122-111. Kevin Durant is reportedly hoping to return earlier than he had anticipated, however, and could be back with the Suns as soon as this Wednesday, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.
When a healthy Durant returns to the fold for Phoenix, one would imagine the club will create some more separation from the pack.
However, with All-Star forward Paul George out until at least the playoffs, his fifth-seeded 39-35 Los Angeles Clippers (also 2.5 games up on the Lakers) seem legitimately catchable. The Lakers have gone 7-5 since their own All-Star forward, LeBron James, went down with a right foot tendon injury.
LA has nine games left in its regular season. Should we project that win percentage on these final contests, the Lakers would finish with a 41-41 record. Would that be good enough for the team to even make the play-in? Time will tell, though one imagines you'd need to get to a 43- or 44-win season mark to avoid the play-in tournament.
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