Right now, the LA Lakers are in 10th place with 36 wins and 32 losses.
To make sure they don’t have to play in the extra “play-in” games and instead go straight to the playoffs as one of the top six teams, they need to do better than the Sacramento Kings.
The Kings are in sixth place with 38 wins and 28 losses, so the Lakers need to win more games than them.
LA LAKERS (-9) over Atlanta Hawks
3/18/24
7:30pm PST
It is a little interesting to see the Lakers laying this number with such a bad defense recently and it’s also funny to see the money and public rolling with the Hawks. When the money and public is against the Lakers, they… pic.twitter.com/38E31kMLYh
— Porter Picks (@Porter_Picks) March 18, 2024
But here’s the tough part: the Lakers have to do better than four other teams in the rankings, and that’s not easy.
Also, the Lakers have fewer games left to play compared to some other teams. They have 14 games left, while some others, like the Golden State Warriors and the Kings, have more.
If the Lakers keep playing like they have been, they’ll finish the season with 43 wins and 39 losses. But even with that record, they still need the teams above them to start losing more often.
For example, the Kings would have to lose at least 12 of their remaining games to fall behind the Lakers.
The Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns would need to lose even more, and the Golden State Warriors would have to stumble too.
Looking at the Lakers’ upcoming games, they’re facing some tough opponents who are also trying to make it to the playoffs.
Teams like the Milwaukee Bucks and the Philadelphia 76ers are on their schedule, and those won’t be easy games.
Plus, the Lakers are dealing with injuries, especially to Anthony Davis, who might not play in the next game because of an eye injury.
Recent: Christian Wood’s Injury Adds to Lakers Problems
With all these challenges, it seems like the Lakers might end up in the play-in games this season.
They’ll have to win a lot of games, which won’t be easy with their tough schedule and injuries.
So, it might actually be better for them to stay where they are in the rankings.
If they finish in eighth place, they’ll face some easier opponents in the playoffs, like the OKC Thunder, and avoid tougher teams until later on.
