Lakers have opportunity to clinch playoff berth, seventh seed
By Daniel Nicks
April 12, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard (12) walks off the court at the end of the game against the Golden State Warriors at the Staples Center. Lakers won 118-116. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
As it stands there are three remaining possibilities for the Lakers in the West.
Should they defeat Houston at home Wednesday night, they will not only clench a playoff berth but find themselves the seventh seed in the West after the Rockets lost to the Suns Monday night.
Securing the seventh seed would land the Lakers a date with the Spurs in the first round – a far more welcoming match up than the Thunder.
On the other hand, should they lose Wednesday night and the Jazz defeat the Grizzlies, the Lakers would fall to ninth place and out of the postseason. However should both the Lakers and the Jazz lose, the Lakers will finish one game ahead of the Jazz and land the eighth seed in the West.
There will certainly be a number of factors in play tomorrow, but the Lakers remain firmly in control of their playoff hopes – a truth as terrifying as it is comforting.
Who do you think will step up Wednesday night?