Playoff Standings Predictions

[Lonzo-Lite]

With LeBron likely to miss a month (16-20 games) and AD still out for 2 more weeks (7-8 games), with only 29 games remaining on the schedule, where do you think the Lakers end up in the standings?

Lakers are 3rd currently with 28-15 record with only 4 games on the L column separating them from the 8th seed at 22-19.
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Tacos

[LakerSD]

If Lebron and/or AD are back within 10 games, top 4 seed.

If neither are back for 1 month, 7-9 seed.

Of course assuming no trade for a player that moves the needle.

[windycitycane]

Wow. Scary. 4 games? We are gonna have to play better just to make it in?
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"I bought the Lakers so I could beat the Celtics" - Dr. Jerry Buss

[LakerSD]

https://twitter.com/tomhaberstroh/status/1374039121212141579?s=21

[Jordan-esque]

[blackmamba08]

No way this team without LBJ and AD can win 9 games of 29. I would say maybe 5-24 if they miss all games until the end. Lets be real with this hard schedule where they can make 9 win?? Thats (bleep) prediction. I am for the record usually really optimistic person in everything but some reality is not bad thing to have sometimes.

[Four Decade Bandwagon]

It is going to be rough. Unless the remaining supporting cast find a previously untapped level of chemistry and efficiency they have not shown, it will likely come down to having to win a high percentage of the last 10-15 just to qualify for the playoffs.

Reminds me of how casual a lot of comments were in the first half. Stating it was “no big deal to coast or have lackluster losses to bad teams”.

Now it matters. I would certainly prefer having an additional 3-4 game cushion added to the current W/L record. Too late now.

[Mamba Mentality]

Well, I'll definitely be tuning in more often to other teams below us, specifically 7th seed and below. I'd hate to have to go into the Play-In Tourney, especially as a 9th or 10th seed where we'd have to win BOTH games.
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“You can't be held captive by the fear of failure or the fear of what people may say.” - Kobe Bryant

[KBandKB]

It doesn’t help that April is a really tough schedule. WE NEED (big emphasis) to win the next four games in a row. Three out of the four may be fine, but we really need to win these next doable games.

NOP
Philly without Embiid (still tough)
Cleveland
Orlando

If we can go 3-1 or 4-0 in this stretch we will stall some time for AD to come back.

[Treble Clef]

I think the worst case scenario in the games without AD and LeBron is a .500 record. They have essentially played the last 2 without them and both were competitive and winnable. If they stay around .500, they won’t lose much ground in the standings.

[lurklurk]

[DrDent]

Welp, if the team performs like it did 2 years ago when LBJ got hurt?

At best you are looking at a play-in round; worst, missing the playoffs. I doubt the latter, but good grief, it's hard to not feel overwhelmed as a fan when you need the fellas to step up their shooting and they proceed...to shoot 5-25 from 3

[DrDent]

Just as an aside. It's my understanding the play-in round covers seeds 7-10. 10th seed is currently the Grizz at 19-20. Just above them is Golden State at 22-21.

Very likely the 9th and 10th seeds will have .500 records (Just above, or just below).

Play-in info below:

https://theathletic.com/news/nba-to-have-play-in-tournament-in-2020-21-season/6IhitxwYMelF

[danzag]

Our schedule in April is brutal. We're going down to the 8th seed

[DrDent]

[SPO200]

Well, at least we will have a better pick I guess and we are good playing away

[governator]

[Jordan-esque]

Don’t look so good
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[chrisca91]

The Lakers will not make the playoffs.

[DrDent]

[roger_federer]

[leking006]

good thing blazers loses.

[leking006]

it sucks that the only thing they can do now is to pray for teams under them to lose also.

[yinoma2001]

[leking006]

Lakers will be the first team to win a ring after finishing 10th in the regular season