The Los Angeles Lakers will enter the final weekend of the NBA regular season with momentum on the court but uncertainty about their playoff spot.
A dominant 101-73 victory over the Phoenix Suns secured a 52-29 record and guaranteed home court advantage in the first round.
However, with the Western Conference standings still a mystery, head coach JJ Redick admitted his team will face challenges.
He was very confident about it, how the entire conference viewed his injury list.
“I’m sure everybody wants to play us,” Redick said before the game. “Let’s get that out, like, everybody wants to play us.”
The Lakers’ playoff status is defined
The win over Phoenix ensured the Lakers won’t finish lower than fourth in the West, but third place is still within reach in the final round of playoffs.
They currently sit one game behind the Denver Nuggets, who are ranked third at 53-28. At worst, the Lakers hold the head-to-head tiebreaker, meaning a Denver slide combined with an LA win would see Redick’s team move up to third place.
Permissions are straightforward. Beat the Utah Jazz and hope Denver loses to the San Antonio Spurs, and the Lakers secure the No. 1 seed. If both teams win, the Lakers stay in fourth place.
Third place would likely set up a first-round meeting with the Minnesota Timberwolves, while fourth would bring a clash with the Houston Rockets.
LeBron James is on the rise amid injury woes
The context behind Redick’s comments is inappropriate. The Lakers are currently without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, who are out with Grade 2 hamstring and groin injuries, respectively.
Between them, the pair make up the bulk of the team’s offensive output. But in their absence, LeBron James has stepped up.
The veteran posted 28 points, 12 assists and six rebounds against Phoenix, continuing his impressive run.
In his last three outings, he is averaging 28 points on 60 percent shooting, along with 12.7 assists and 7.7 rebounds.
“I had to go back to the role I was used to in the past,” said James. “Circumstances brought me back there, and I’m just trying to make things happen so that we can continue standing.”
His leadership was complemented by the contributions of role players, including Luke Kennard, who added 19 points to Sundowns.
“You lose 60 points a game,” Kennard said. “But we also have LeBron, and the way he’s been playing and leading us has been great.”
The circle of Western Conference rivals weakened the Lakers
Throughout the conference, the teams are already handling the workload and putting themselves in a good position to meet.
Denver’s recent win over the top-ranked Oklahoma City Thunder came with both sides resting several key players, despite the Nuggets’ seeding still being undecided.
“The teams are in a position where they can start looking forward to the matches that may happen in the second round,” he said. “We see some of those teams resting their entire lineup.”
“We have to find a formula and a belief that this team can be successful,” Redick added. “That’s what we’re focused on.”
The Lakers aim to defy expectations in the NBA playoffs
Regardless of where they land, the Lakers will enter the postseason carrying both momentum and doubt.
Redick was eager to frame the broader picture, highlighting the importance of a 50-plus game campaign despite ongoing adversity.
“To win 52 games, maybe 53, to face the difficulties we had… it’s an honor for our players,” he said.
There is no hiding the challenge ahead. Injuries have changed the perception of the Lakers as a contender, and opponents may view them as vulnerable.
Yet with James regaining a normal level of influence and responsiveness from the supporting cast, LA remains a risky proposition.
