Standings Watch: Race To The Playoffs

I’d definitely prefer to avoid the Suns in Round 1, but if the options are to face them as the 5 seed or be the 7 seed in the play in the former option is a no-brainer. Despite their pathetic loss yesterday I think the Wolves are pretty good and a somewhat challenging matchup for us.

In 2021 the Suns chose not to duck us like everyone else and were rewarded for it (I know, we should have won that series). This team is already very confident, if we beat the Suns in a tough first round series I think they’ll start believing they’re championship favorites. Get through that series and I LOVE our chances of taking out Denver and whomever comes out of the other side of the bracket next.

 

No worries @Panko ..... what WE want doesn't affect jack what happens. Enjoy the ride. On second thought, thinking of Karma here .... maybe Lakers fans hoping to get cute with top 6 or 5 preferred positioning after the s***show we went through for one and two thirds seasons because of the Westbrick trade .... WILL piss off the basketball gods? Stop it.

 

If AD and Lebron can elevate their games in the playoffs...everybody is in trouble. This is the best roster since the chip year, probably even deeper and more talented than that team.

 

Lakers fans right now are like ugly nerdy guys who have a shot at the hottest cheerleader!! Quit worrying about it and take what you get!!!

 

Interesting convo going on, here is the simple truth in my opinion.....

If this team is playing their best then they can beat any team in 1 game playin (ugh, avoid that though) and a 7 game series. I think on paper we are a championship caliber team and if that is true then we play our best and let the cards land where they do. I really think teams don't want to face us especially if AD decides to be a monster. And yea, we can crap the bed too. We have seen that a lot with this team but lately we have showed up and performed when needed.

Win. Win. Win every game. That's what I want.

 

I'll go against the tide and say I have no problem with throwing a game or two to get a better matchup.

all teams do it, and year after year we see teams in other sports get far in knockout competitions just because they had an easier seeding, so they are more rested when the big moments come.

you got to be smart in order to have a chance to win, especially when you consider how injury prone our team is and what it would do to it, to have to play 7 games in the first round.

 

I’ve seen a few folks say that this roster might be better than the 2020 team. I think that team is, somehow, getting a little underrated even among Laker fans. Even with AD playing awesome lately, the 2020 versions of LeBron and AD are meaningfully better than the current versions IMO. Green gets a lot of criticism for his shooting, but he was a legit 3&D guy. The Green/KCP combo is probably as good or a little better than what we have now with Reaves/Beasley IMO. Kuzma was up and down but he was a little bit of Vando and a little bit of Rui. McGee/Howard is obviously way better than Gabriel/Bamba. Even Bradley has gotten a little underrated since he didn’t play in the bubble and was not good in 2022. Bradley/Caruso with the occasional Rondo games were solid.

Agreed we can beat anyone, including Bucks/C Bags, with this roster if LeBron and AD are playing like Top 10 guys.

 

LeBron’s still far from being himself but he seems healthy now and yes does have considerable room to get back to where he was pre deadline when he was scoring 35 a game “efficiently”. He even did his signature spinning layup drive last night “without” traveling!

 

Thank you Danny!

 

If you try to manipulate things you could easily end up in a situation where an opponent gets hot in a play in game and then we’re watching from home again.

if you can lock in a spot and get some extra rest you do it.

we must win as many games as we can.

 

I'm firmly in the "win out" camp (see above), and I do not want to upset the basketball gods by tanking a game for better playoff position. *BUT*, if GS manages to lose another game, and we beat the Clippers on Wednesday, we *MIGHT* want consider sitting AD, LeBron, and DLO for our final game against the Jazz, just to give them a little rest before the playoffs. *wink, wink, foot stomp, "hello Mr. Thompson"*

 

What an accomplished athlete duo Klay and his brother Trayce became. The latter cracked a grand slam plus two more homers and 8 total RBIs for the Dodgers 2 games ago.

 

Sacramento Kings, we’re counting on you. That game Friday and our game against the Clippers are the two big ones.

I honestly think we win the next three. The Jazz are tanking and now Kessler is out, the Clippers are faltering and seem frustrated with Kawhi sitting out and the Suns will be locked into their spot by the time we get to them. I don’t think we’re going to rest anyone down the stretch unless maybe that Jazz game if we’ve clinched 6th or 5th.

 

No excuse for anyone sitting out the Clippers game. This thing should be over early and we shouldn't need much out anyone making a real check.

 

I hear GS & LAC Fans saying that those Teams are trying to drop in order to avoid PHO as well...
One of them is gonna fool around & find out the hard way & end up in the Play In..

I say, Bring on the Suns..!!

 

I'd rather be in the opposite bracket from the Suns. Clippers too with George.

 

What the hell Bamba? I see him dragging luggages up airplane stairs