Los Angeles Lakers: Game-by-game predictions for the final eight games
By Jason Reed
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets — Loss
At this point, the Los Angeles Lakers will have already had the first seed in the Western Conference locked up (they only need to win two games to clinch) and will be out of the running for the best record in the league as the Bucks will have won enough to clinch.
Thus, Frank Vogel is going to be toying with his rotation and really trying to find the best outlook for the playoffs. LeBron and Davis will still play as they need to stay in game shape, but it will be a lesser workload with a lesser usage rate as the team toys with rotations and getting other guys involved.
With that in mind, the already talented Denver Nuggets, who are 1-2 against the Lakers with an overtime loss this year, will narrowly edge out this Lakers team.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Sacramento Kings — Win
The same situation will exist in the last game of the season but the Lakers will still emerge victorious as the talent gap between the Lakers and Kings is significant.
As the 11th seed, I think the Kings will essentially be out of the running for a playoff spot once this game rolls around, so it will really just serve as a tune-up game for the Lakers for the playoffs with no other implications attached.
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The Lakers emerge victoriously and finish this eight-game stretch with a solid 6-2 record. This would put them at 55-16 for the season, which is a pace of 63 wins in an 82-game season.