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Los Angeles Lakers: Door open for spot in Western Conference Playoffs

By Nick Ziegler

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 21: Luke Walton of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the game against the New York Knicks at Staples Center on January 21, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 21: Luke Walton of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the game against the New York Knicks at Staples Center on January 21, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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Due to some recent changes in the Western Conference, the door might be open for the Los Angeles Lakers to still make the playoffs.

Even though it might have been a long shot, the Los Angeles Lakers wanted to make the playoffs this year. With one of the youngest teams in the league, this goal was a lofty one for the Lakers.

To start the season, the Lakers got off to a nice start. With strong play on the defensive end, the Lakers were able to win some games and were certainly playing competitive basketball. However, with a young roster also came some rough games and stretches in the first half for the Lakers. Also, injuries, of course, came into play.

As of now, the Lakers have a 19-30 record with their 50th game coming up against the Orlando Magic. Even though the Lakers are 11 games under .500, there is still hope for a chance at the playoffs.

The Lakers currently sit 11th in the Western Conference with the Los Angeles Clippers and Utah Jazz ahead of them. In the seventh and eighth seed in the West lies the New Orleans Pelicans and the Denver Nuggets.

With two major things happening in the West the past few days, the Lakers actually have a chance to make up some ground and compete for one of the final two playoffs spots. Due to the Clippers trading Blake Griffin, they will almost certainly be taking a step backward despite getting a nice haul from the Detroit Pistons.

In addition to Griffin being traded, the Pelicans lost DeMarcus Cousins for the rest of the season to an achillies injury. As two teams that were certainly playoff contenders, these are big blows to their chances.

Just because those two things happened, doesn’t mean that the Lakers will just be handed a playoff spot. In the second half of the season, the Lakers will have to find a way to win games. Also, the Lakers’ playoff chances will likely either be helped or hurt at the NBA Trade Deadline.

Next: 3 Reasons why the Lakers should trade Jordan Clarkson

With a desire to shed contracts for next offseason, the Lakers are expected to be an active team at the deadline. Depending on what moves are or aren’t made, the Lakers’ chances will be affected. However, the door is certainly open for the Lakers to still make the playoffs if they play good basketball.

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