What are the Lakers’ chances of making the play-in tournament?
With LeBron James out of commission, we look at the Lakers’ chances to make the play-in tournament.
Now that Russell Westbrook left the team and the Lakers are looking to shape up their current season, the team got hit with some harsh news. The Lakers will be without LeBron James for about two weeks due to an injury. The now all-time NBA highest scorer is essential for their chances to reach the postseason, and his injury will make the guys in LA rethink their real options.
The team will be looking at Anthony Davis to step up and help the Lakers reach the postseason. In the team’s last game, he scored 28 pts in 36 minutes against the Grizzlies. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough; they still lost 121 to 109, cutting a three-game winning streak.
What are the Lakers’ real chances of making it to the NBA play-in tournament?
According to projects.fivethirtyeight.com, the Lakers have a 45% chance of making it to the postseason and 1% of winning the NBA finals. However, the Lakers are now one and a half games shy of the ninth seed in the Western Conference and three and a half games away from sixth place.
Due to how difficult the Western Conference is shaping out to be, it is possible that the Lakers could end up with a winning number of games above 40, making it very possible for them to reach that postseason.
If they do make it to the playoffs, then LA has the quality to reach far. Guys like LeBron and Anthony Davis know how to win, and once in the postseason, all bets are off.