Subscribe
Follow Us
It's been anything but smooth sailing for the Los Angeles Lakers this season and it seems like the drama has been non-stop since the 2022 NBA season tipped off. In spite of the on-going drama and poor team chemistry that has been put on display by the Lakers this season, they are still in prime position to make some noise at the play-in tournament.
They're also only a five-game winning streak away from nabbing the sixth seed in the Western Conference and avoiding having to participate in the play-in tourney at all. With all this going for the Lakers, we'll now discuss the three reasons why they can still save their season after an impressive comeback victory over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night.
How Lakers Can Still Save The Season
3. LeBron James is a proven winner who should never be written off
Even in the midst of a catastrophic season in Los Angeles, LeBron James has been having one of the greatest individual season's in NBA history – especially after becoming the first player to be top 10 in scoring, rebounding, and assists all-time. Time and again, King James has found ways to overcome the odds and lead his teams on deep postseason runs.
After leading an epic comeback against the Jazz on Wednesday night that saw the Lakers overcome a 25-point deficit, James reminded us all that he's still got plenty left in the tank and should never be counted out in any contest. LeBron led the way for the Lakers with 33 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and two steals.
He was playing like man on a mission who continues to fight regardless of how bleak things have been for Los Angeles this season. It just further goes to show that whether they compete in the play-in tournament or are able to fight their way out of it, James still possesses the skill, will, and persistence to help the Lakers overachieve with a relatively weak supporting cast and an injury-plagued Anthony Davis.
2. Russell Westbrook will make the necessary the adjustments and step up his play for the Lakers
It goes without saying that the Russell Westbrook experiment in LA hasn't gone as planned in any way, shape, or form. However, Westbrook has proven his dominance in the past as a triple-double machine and arguably the most athletic point guard to ever play the game. As he continues searching for ways to contribute to the team while taking a back seat to James and Davis, it's fair to say that Westbrook has had his fair share of challenges.
Even so, he can still be a major asset for the Lakers and may even thrive in a sixth man role where he could run the second unit and give them a huge boost off the bench. At any rate, the Lakers need him to be on his A-game now more than ever with a series of line-up changes and Davis' continued health issues forcing James to carry a bigger load. In due time though, Westbrook will be back to his old ways and figure out how to coexist with LeBron and the rest of this unpredictable and elusive Lakers squad.
1. Malik Monk, Austin Reaves, and Stanley Johnson have been reliable role players for LA
A few bright spots for the Lakers during this tumultuous campaign have been the all-out efforts of Malik Monk, Austin Reaves, and Stanley Johnson. They've all been very productive for Los Angeles and continue to bring their all throughout the season. They'll still need more help during the remainder of the season, but Monk's explosive play on offense mixed in with Reaves and Johnson's solid two-way play has been a plus for the Lakers and given them some quality hustle players to rely on in uncertain times.
With their continued growth and development the Lakers have some hope and are not quite out of the playoff mix just yet. Their youth and athleticism mixed in with the veteran leadership of this championship winning team have already paid huge dividends and will continue to be a major factor for LA as they get closer to the playoffs, and Wednesday's thrilling win over the Jazz was another step in the right direction for them.
