Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Lakers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Last season, the third, fourth and fifth seeds in the Western Conference all had the same record, and the difference between second and seventh was just four games.
This year, things appear just as tight in the West, and the Lakers are once again part of the logjam.
Currently, LA is
the six seed and two games behind the No. 3 seed Rockets. But they are also just two games away from falling into the play-in.
With 22 games left this season, things can go either way. For our SB Nation Reacts survey this week, we are asking, where do you think the Lakers finish in the West?
The upcoming matchups will certainly challenge the Lakers. They have games coming up against the Nuggets, Rockets, and Timberwolves, all teams ahead of them in the standings.
If they win these head-to-head games, they’ll earn the tiebreakers over Houston and Denver. They have already won the season series over Minnesota. Considering how close things are, that could be the difference in having homecourt advantage or even potentially being in the play-in.
Besides the matchups against the Rockets, Nuggets and Wolves, LA still has two games against the Thunder and faces some tough upcoming contests against Eastern Conference opponents, including the Pistons, Cavs, Magic and Knicks.
So, which team are the Lakers? Are they the ones that are finally healthy, figuring out their lineups and ready to go on a run? Or are they a team that’s not great on offense, bad at defense and will still lose to the NBA’s best when push comes to shove?
Share your opinion by voting and letting us know down below!
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.
