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What do the Lakers need to get the play-offs and avoid the play-in tournament?

The Los Angeles Lakers are fighting to make it to the playoffs, but can they get there by avoiding the Play-In tournament?

Andy Restrepo
Andy Restrepoandyrestrepo10
The Los Angeles Lakers are fighting to make it to the playoffs, but can they get there by avoiding the Play-In tournament?
Kirby LeeUSA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

Exciting stuff is happening in LA with LeBron being back with the team. As Isiah Thomas said, “Los Angeles is looking good.” But the reality is that Anthony Davis is leading the pack. The Lakers lost their 11th consecutive game against the Clippers 118 -125. The King had 33 points, 7 assists, and 8 rebounds. AD (17 points, 3 assists, and 11 rebounds) was not even the second-best Lakers player of the night; that spot was reserved for Austin Reaves, who once more had a blast-off night with 20 points, 2 assists, and 4 rebounds.

After the match-up ended, Lebron James declared this was “one of the toughest games we’ve had this year.” Russell Westbrook’s first encounter with his former team showed how much he was misused at the Lakers. From the tip-off once more, we saw a starting line-up point-guard with endless energy, blocking Austin Reaves’ shot on the first possession, then assisting/scoring on the first eight points. Then he dropped a pull-up jumper in front of James and stared him down, just as he later pointed at James after making another jumper.

Can the Lakers make it to the play-in? Or the playoffs?

What LA needs:

Suns vs. Lakers: This game is crucial. This could be an opportunity for the team to win against a rival in the playoffs, and it is not fighting for much now. Also, since LA already beat the Timberwolves, this is an opportunity to cement their playoff bit in an existing tiebreaker.

For the Warriors to lose: LeBron needs some help here. If Golden State loses and LA can keep their run, they have a real chance of making it to the playoffs as the six-seeded and avoiding the play-in tournament.

With two games left, every night for the Lakers is a final. The team needs to be perfect in this last stretch to make it to the playoffs and avoid the play-in.

With the return of James, anything is possible. The King said, “To hell with the play-in, and we can actually be a top-six seed.”

The Lakers have crucial games against the Suns and the Jazz until the season ends. If the Lakers win, they could secure the sixth seed and face the Sacramento Kings in the first round. The Kings secured a playoff berth earlier this week, ending the longest playoff drought in the NBA.