Somehow, someway, the Los Angeles Lakers are No. 3 in the West. Remember, this is a team that many didn't think would truly compete in a stacked conference, but they've defied those expectations. Their play over the past few weeks has made it hard for many, including Brian Windhorst, to know what to think about them:
On the latest episode of the Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective podcast, Windy said:
"I do not know what's going to happen to the Lakers, but I will tell you this -- they've won eight of their last 10 and five in a row. That has put them in the three seed as they embark on this six-game road trip with five brutal games to start."
No one truly knows what will happen to Los Angeles (or any other team) in the playoffs, but the Lakers have proven that they can play more than the role of spoiler. Dare I say this is a team that could, against all preseason odds, go on a run?
It certainly feels that way, at least right now. As Windhorst mentioned, their upcoming road trip will be yet another good test for LA. It will start with two games in Houston, one tonight and the other on Wednesday. Even going 1-1 would be another reason to buy into the Lakers (if you haven't already).
Overlooking the Lakers might've actually paid off
No one should've been rooting to square up with LA in the first round (not even Denver), especially not when Luka Dončić exists. He is one of the greatest offensive stars in the history of the game. He has a pretty good sidekick in Austin Reaves. We haven't even mentioned LeBron James yet. He is no longer the top option, but as we saw in Saturday's overtime win, that doesn't shrink his importance.
Even with Dončić, Reaves, and LeBron, there are still plenty of non-believers. And no matter what happens between now and April 12, there will continue to be. How their below-average defense this season (which is actually the 12th-best in the league since the All-Star break) will fare in the postseason is a valid concern. How Deandre Ayton will look is another big question mark.
Because of who the Lakers are, pressure will always be a thing, but maybe there's something to the fact that they're not facing the pressure of winning a title now before their window closes (thanks again to the Luka trade). The front office didn't put added pressure on itself either with a big trade-deadline move, opting to keep as much flexibility as possible entering the offseason.
While this could very well be a squad whose season ends with another first-round exit, the fact that they're in the position they're in now is somewhat remarkable. Fans are hoping that this past stretch of games is just a peek into what's to come. And you know what? It very well could be.