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Why the current West standings are perfect for the Los Angeles Lakers

By Jason Reed

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 10: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers talks to his teammates as the Brooklyn Nets are on the line shooting a free throw in the fourth quarter at Barclays Center on April 10, 2021 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 10: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers talks to his teammates as the Brooklyn Nets are on the line shooting a free throw in the fourth quarter at Barclays Center on April 10, 2021 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

The Los Angeles Lakers were in first place in the Western Conference to start the season but that started to slip as the injuries piled up on the team. Anthony Davis has missed significant time but the Lakers stayed in the picture for the first seed because of LeBron James.

Then LeBron suffered a high ankle sprain on March 20 and the team has slipped in the standings since. The Lakers have a losing record since LeBron suffered the injury and now find themselves in fifth place in the West.

When LeBron was first injured there was some concern about the team falling into the bottom two seeds in the West and thus being forced to participate in the new play-in tournament. However, the team has been slightly better than they could have been without LeBron and the teams at the bottom of the standings haven’t been great.

It is certainly still possible, but less likely now that the Lakers are getting their star players back. Los Angeles is two games ahead of the sixth seed and three games ahead of the seventh seed with 16 games to play.

Laker fans better hope that the team does not get cold while Portland and Dallas get hot. In fact, Laker fans should be hoping that the team stays as either the fifth or fourth seed and that the top of the standings does not change.

The current Western Conference standings are perfect for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Last year the Los Angeles Lakers did not get any favors as they had to play one of the hottest eighth seeds in recent NBA history in the Trail Blazers in the first round and then had to play the pesky Rockets in round two. This year, if things can stay as they currently are, the Lakers will have a much better path.

The Western Conference is tough and the Lakers are going to have to go through good teams regardless. However, as it stands right now, I like the Lakers’ chances far more than if they moved down to the sixth seed or if the top of the standings got moved around.

Let’s break down what the Lakers’ current playoff path would look like and why it would benefit the team to stay as the fourth or fifth seed.

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