Lakers had a Shot...and missed

     The Los Angeles Lakers will not take part in the 2018 NBA playoffs. It was a stretch for the purple and gold to make the playoffs and most with common knowledge on NBA would have easily laughed off any suggestions or fan theory on how the Lakers would make the playoffs. The Lakers sit in the 11th spot with a record of 33 wins and 41 losses.
   
     The race for the 8th seed and final playoff spot is still being wildly contested between the Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers, and the Utah Jazz. Minnesota cannot afford any slip ups in their final games or they can see themselves not only fall to the 8th seed, but realistically miss the playoffs all together.

    The Lakers had the chance to make the playoffs this year, but it seems they are content with just being overall more competitive than the previous years. Which I agree and admit that this year watching Laker games at home or at a sports bar were worth paying for the beers I drank. Now to finish the season off strong and wait for the playoffs to end and head towards the free agency that will definitely conjure up plenty of surprises, not just for the Lakers but for the entire league.

    The season isn't over, heck, the playoffs haven't even began. I can't wait for playoff basketball. My favorite team wont participate, but this league has excellent teams that provide skillful and exciting basketball. Now to watch the remaining regular season games to see where teams finish to cement their playoffs spot.

Lakers have a Shot...

Lakers have a Shot…..

The Los Angeles Lakers are still in the playoff hunt. A lot has changed from a week ago. A quick recap, the Lakers won two and lost two. Which isn’t necessarily bad, but they did not make up any ground. The Utah Jazz had the biggest jump from 10^th to 5^th and are on a 9-game winning streak. The Lakers play the Indiana Pacers tonight and with only 13 games left, numerically, they are still alive in the playoff hunt. However, with the regular season coming to a close and not making ground does make a staunch supporter begin to doubt just a bit.

The Lakers remain in 11^th while the LA Clippers (37W-32L) sit above them. The Utah Jazz (40-30) are in the 5^th spot followed by the Pelicans (40-30), Spurs (40-30), Timberwolves (40-31) and the Denver Nuggets (38-32) are in 9^th. Most humans with common sense would bet that the Lakers won’t make the playoffs and I will not argue against that. Yet, the fan part in me, is still holding onto that small glimpse of hope that the Lakers can make the playoffs. With 13 games left each lost (most likely 3) will eliminate the Lakers from the playoffs.

The NBA regular season is exciting especially out in the west. Earlier in the week the San Antonio Spurs were momentarily out of a playoff position. There is still a whole month of basketball left to play and teams that sit in the 5^th and 9^th spot can all change. I will argue that those teams will definitely not finish as they are now. Both LA teams seem to be the ones being left behind in all the fun and excitement, but for the fans of the game this is a thrilling way to head towards the end of the regular season.  

Lakers Have a Shot

Lakers have a Shot!

The Los Angeles Lakers will host LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers Sunday evening at the Staples Center. Most of the media frenzy will be focused on LeBron James and his option to opt out on his final year on his current contract and become an unrestricted free agent. Pretty much giving the biggest brand in the NBA free reign to choose his next destination. One of the possible destinations James could land is with the team he is facing Sunday at the Staples Center.

However, James has stated that he has no “list of potential destinations” and reassured Cleveland fans that he still has work to do this season. I will take LeBron James by his word and move on from that topic for now. At the moment LeBron James has the right mindset and the Lakers should follow and focus on the present. The season is approaching the final stretch and there is plenty to play for. Especially for the Los Angeles Lakers.

There are 17 remaining regular season games for the purple and gold and with an optimistic chance on clinching the 8^th and final playoff spot. The Lakers currently sit in 11^th behind the Utah Jazz, Denver Nuggets, and current 8^th seed Clippers. To most NBA fans this may seem like a stretch, which it is, but that’s what is captivating about the league. There are still four teams battling for that last playoff spot.

The Lakers have the higher mountain to climb of the four teams and it doesn’t help that they lost to the Nuggets on Friday night. Of the 17 games remaining the Lakers play four games against the teams that sit above them. They will host the Nuggets, two games against the Utah Jazz, and their last game of the season will be against the LA Clippers.

One of the reasons why I mention the optimistic opportunity for the Lakers to make the playoffs is to appreciate the now. Laker fans had to endure two awful seasons and I am aware that most Laker fans’ mentality is win it all or it is a failure. The “We hang banners” thought process is due to the historically successful basketball organization. But, as someone who watches Lakers basketball on a regular basis this team is a significantly improved and fun to watch again. Their record may discourage some, but I can say that the loses the Lakers accumulate this season differ from the past.

For the most part, the Lakers are a competitive team and have demonstrated their experience by not being able to close out games when they have the lead late in the game. But! That right there is the difference! The team isn’t hopelessly being blown out by the other teams and that is where I make my case. Yes, it is a long shot, a prayer, and then some, but, excuse my short sightedness, LeBron James isn’t a Laker and free agency is never a guarantee to any player or organization. These current Lakers have a shot at the playoffs and that's something to get excited about.