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What a Los Angeles Lakers play-in NBA Championship run could look like

By Najee Adams

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 11: The Los Angeles Lakers celebrate with the trophy after winning the 2020 NBA Championship Final over the Miami Heat in Game Six of the 2020 NBA Finals at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on October 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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 Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 11: The Los Angeles Lakers celebrate with the trophy after winning the 2020 NBA Championship Final over the Miami Heat in Game Six of the 2020 NBA Finals at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on October 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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 Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

Despite the shortened 72-game season, new COVID-19 protocols and a slew of injuries, the vision of placing an 18th Larry O’Brien trophy in Jeanie Buss’ office has never wavered.

Last season, the Los Angeles Lakers spent over an entire calendar year trying to “Leave a Legacy” and this year presents an opportunity for them to build upon it. Only 13 teams in NBA history have ever won consecutive championships and if they were to win this year, an argument could be made that they conquered the two most difficult seasons the NBA has ever seen.

Not to mention that the Lakers as a franchise have been synonymous with success for decades, with five of those 13 teams to win consecutive rings being previous iterations of the Purple & Gold.

While it would be an absolute understatement to say that things didn’t go exactly as the Lakers planned this season, they still have the opportunity to do something incredible this postseason.

With a current record of 40-30 and fresh off of big wins against the Phoenix Suns and New York Knicks, the Lakers have found themselves in a race to stay out of the NBA’s play-in tournament.

The Lakers, Dallas Mavericks and Portland Trail Blazers are all competing for seeds 5-7 right now and are all within one game of each other.

However, let’s just assume the Los Angeles Lakers fall short and are forced to participate in the play-in tournament.

Contrary to what LeBron James believes, I actually think that the play-in tournament could be good for the Lakers.

For long stretches throughout the season, this team has looked lethargic, sloppy and just downright uninterested in playing winning basketball. Throwing them into the fire and forcing them to wake up could be exactly what they need to give them a jumpstart into championship mode, plus…I don’t really want to see the Clippers in the first round.

They wouldn’t be going up against a team that might be looked at as an easy win either, they’d most likely be facing off against NBA scoring leader Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors who are winners of six out of their last eight games.

While seeding could still switch up in the Western Conference, this is how we’re going to assume the season will play out:

  1.  Utah Jazz
  2. Phoenix Suns
  3. Los Angeles Clippers
  4. Denver Nuggets
  5. Dallas Mavericks
  6. Portland Trail Blazers
  7. Los Angeles Lakers
  8. Golden State Warriors
  9. Memphis Grizzlies
  10. San Antonio Spurs

The Lakers will need to go from play-in tournament to NBA Finals and there is no doubt that this team has the talent to do so. They’d be the lowest seed in NBA history to win the championship and knowing James, that’s probably something he’d like to add to his resume just for fun.

Let’s take a peek at what their path could look like.

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