The Los Angeles Lakers are in danger of missing the playoffs for the sixth consecutive year, despite the fact that they added one of the best players in the league in LeBron James.
After losing to the Atlanta Hawks 117-114, the Lakers now have a win-loss record of 28-29 for the season. They are currently in the 10th spot in the Western Conference, and have lost seven of their last 10 games.
After the Lakers' game against the Hawks, LeBron was asked by reporters if he's worried about not making the playoffs for the first time in more than a decade.
The four-time MVP had a simple response:
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LeBron has made the playoffs for 13 straight years, including eight straight appearances in the NBA Finals dating back to the 2010-11 season. This season, however, the Lakers have been struggling to win games, especially when James missed more than a month due to a groin injury he suffered in December. The All-Star forward returned last week, but it doesn't seem to have helped the team turn things around.
However, history suggests that post-All-Star break is when LeBron takes his game to another level. During his stints with the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers, James became more aggressive after the break, because that is usually the time his teams need him the most. The Lakers could see that type of player once the All-Star festivities are over.
Still, LeBron will need help. Guys like Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma, and even Lonzo Ball, who is expected to return from an ankle injury after the break, will need to take their game to the next level if they want to make the playoffs.
Time is running out for the Lakers, and only they have the answers to all the questions surrounding the team's future.
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