Los Angeles Lakers: What to do to make the playoffs next year
By Tadi Abedje
The Los Angeles Lakers are going to miss the postseason for a fifth consecutive year. Here are some things they could do to end that streak.
As you may have heard, the Los Angeles Lakers were eliminated from playoff contention this year after losing to the Detroit Pistons on Monday 112-106. Currently, this team has won 32 games so far, which is most since the 2012-13 season when they had a 45-37 record.
Ironically, that was the last time they qualified for the postseason. Lakers legend Kobe Bryant literally carried that team to the playoffs before tearing his Achilles in the third to last game of the regular season. They would get swept by the San Antonio Spurs in the first round without the Black Mamba.
Since then, they have a combined record of 124-277 record in the next five seasons, including this year. The rebuilding process was longer and harder for any Lakers fans who are used to winning championships. But this season could be the turning point for this franchise. They have young and upcoming squad to be excited about led by Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, Josh Hart and Julius Randle (assuming they re-sign him).
They have been competitive this season against the best teams in the league like the Houston Rockets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder, and took the defending champion Golden State Warriors to overtime twice. With a couple of game-changing plays, they could be in the playoffs right now. They aren’t that far away from their goal and here’s what they should do to make it happen.