Ah, the wild wild West is something to behold, isn't it? With only two games left for every team involved in the Western Conference playoff mix, the positioning of all but the top two seeds have yet to be decided.
There are 15 postseason seeds still to be determined with two game days left in the regular season. All 30 teams will be in action tonight and again on Sunday.
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 11, 2025
The seed possibilities entering tonight's games ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/acD2OLuv66
For the Los Angeles Lakers, this means there are still five possible teams that could end up as their first-round opponents when the NBA Playoffs officially begin.
The good news for the Lakers is the fact that one win will lock them into the third seed for this year's postseason. That should simplify their playoff run and increase their title hopes. The bad news is there will be a handful of matchups that Los Angeles can find themselves encountering in the first round which could be a touch worrisome. From the most troublesome to the least threatening, it is important to identify who ranks where among those potential challengers.
No, thank you: Golden State Warriors
Adam Silver would probably foam at the mouth to see the Golden State Warriors play the Lakers in the first round. The ratings for this potential series would be through the roof. That, of course, has everything to do with the iconic rivalry between LeBron James and Stephen Curry.
The pair of aging superstars are the two biggest attractions in this era of NBA basketball. Both their teams have been rejuvenated following big-time trade deadline acquisitions.
The latter is why the Lakers probably do not want to take their chances with this team. The Warriors have a 22-6 record with Jimmy Butler in the lineup. Golden State has the sixth-best offensive rating (119.1) and the third-best defensive rating (109.7) since the All-Star break.
Curry is averaging 26.8 points and 6.0 assists per game, while shooting nearly 50-40-90 (47.6 percent from the field has him just short) in that same span. It's not that the Lakers could not win this series. However, it is best not to put that to the test in the first round.
Maybe not: Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers will always be the little brother in the City of Angels. That will never change. However, the Clippers are putting things together at the right time.
They are 16-3 over their last 19 games. Kawhi Leonard has looked like himself again, posting averages of 24.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 2.0 steals per game, while shooting 51.6 percent from the field and 42.1 percent from beyond the arc, over that stretch.
The Clippers are beatable, but testing yourself against one of the hotter teams heading into the playoffs is far from ideal.
Surprisingly manageable: Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets used to cause nightmares in Los Angeles. They were the team that made people wake up in cold sweat during the middle of the night. Those are not this year's Nuggets.
The recent firing of Michael Malone has left the team in a weird spot ahead of the postseason. The Lakers have also proven better-equipped to battle them in this year's regular season.
Nikola Jokic still presents an incredible adversary. However, the three-time MVP does not have the supporting cast to rival the achievements of previous itterations of the Nuggets anymore.
Yes, but: Minnesota Timberwolves
This one is tricky. The Lakers split the season series against the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2024-25, going 2-2. Theoretically, they have a lot of size, which at an initial glance is not a preferable challenge to defend.
However, despite the impressive stature of their players, the Timberwolves are only tied for 15th when it comes to rebounds per game (44.2). Likewise, they are 20th in the league at scoring inside the paint (46.9 points per game).
If I were a playoff team — I would be legitimately terrified of playing against Anthony Edwards.
— Esfandiar Baraheni (@JustEsBaraheni) April 11, 2025
Dude just rises up to those big moments.
Figuring out how to guard Anthony Edwards in a seven-game series is no fun task. However, it is ultimately be preferable to the other three matchups so far.
Give me that: Memphis Grizzlies
The worst kept secret in Laker land is the fact that the Memphis Grizzlies are, without question, the ideal first-round matchup for Los Angeles.
The Lakers beat this core in a playoff series just a couple of years ago. The Taylor Jenkins firing should still have that team figuring a lot of things out on the fly. There is just no real reason to fear the Grizzlies. A three-six meeting between these two sides is what everyone in Los Angeles is rooting for.