3 Reasons the Los Angeles Lakers are still contenders

Mar 9, 2022; Houston, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) drives against Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) in the fourth quarter at Toyota Center. Houston Rockets won 139 to 130. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 9, 2022; Houston, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) drives against Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) in the fourth quarter at Toyota Center. Houston Rockets won 139 to 130. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports
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Mar 3, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) dunks ahead of Los Angeles Clippers center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) and guard Amir Coffey (7) during the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 3, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) dunks ahead of Los Angeles Clippers center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) and guard Amir Coffey (7) during the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

3. LeBron James

As long as you are in the playoffs and have LeBron James on your roster you are always going to have a chance. Even at his age LeBron still has an argument as the best player in this league and continues to destroy the league offensively getting the basket seemingly anytime he wants.

We watched as James put up 56-10-3 in a huge win over Golden State a team that is considered to be one of the true contenders in the West. James is capable of putting together a game like this at any time but especially when everything is on the line.

It is often forgotten that James still wasn’t entirely healthy when the Lakers lost to the Suns in the playoffs last season. Coming off of an ankle injury James never looked fully healthy until this season. The last time we saw a fully healthy LeBron in the playoffs the Lakers were running through the West and ultimately the Miami Heat to win a championship.

With LeBron, they are still more than capable of making a late-season run no matter how dark the season has gotten.

The Lakers getting back on track seems unlikely but come playoff time there is one man in basketball you should never bet against and despite how the season has gone he still plays for the Los Angeles Lakers.