For the Lakers, the qualification for the playoffs was at their fingertips, but the poor record after the All-Star Game has caused the Lakers to fall into the abyss, and now ranked tenth in the West, and the Spurs, ranked eleventh, finally see the hope of the playoffs. Are the Lakers really going to have Popovich playoffs again before retiring? Of course that's not their intention, just look at James' insistence on playing the Pelicans with injuries, and they don't want to miss the playoff playoffs. However, looking at the Lakers' final schedule, I am afraid that it is another wave of losing streaks, which is simply a feeling of despair.
In the last eight games, the Lakers' most certain opponent is the Thunder, and the remaining seven games are all the top eight teams in the West, two of which face the Nuggets, and the Lakers have no chance of winning. The rest is against the Lone Rangers, Jazz, Pelicans, Suns, Warriors, the game against the Pelicans still has a chance, but James may not be able to play. Assuming James can't stand the sharp pain in his legs, the only way is to truce, Vogel has no way to force James to play, and thick eyebrows can only return in the playoffs at the earliest. If the Lakers don't have a playoff to play, thick eyebrows can take a holiday carnival in advance.
At this time, the only player the Lakers can trust is Westbrook, which is also the lakers' last hope. Because his state has recently picked up significantly, the attitude of the game is very good, the concentration is extremely high, I don't know what stimulated him, or the role of the psychologist is reflected. In short, Westbrook's health is the Only Hope for the Lakers to reach the playoffs, in fact, Westbrook also has the experience of leading the team into the playoffs with a single core, which was achieved when the Wizards played. Now the Lakers need Wisbrook to play a super-huge role, other role players naturally take on more, as long as they win more than the Pelicans, the Lakers still have a chance.
That is to say, the Lakers lost more than they won in the last eight games, and there is hope to hold the tenth place position, or even return to the ninth position, provided that the Pelicans and Spurs lose more than the Lakers. Of course, with James' fighting spirit, it is not ruled out that it will play closed and insist on playing, ensuring that at least 25 points are scored in each game, and the Lakers will also have a certain chance of winning in some games, such as games against the Lone Rangers, Jazz, Pelicans, and Thunder. As for the game against the Suns and the Warriors, the Lakers can only ask for more blessings, the opponent should not release water, even if the substitutes play, the Lakers are not completely sure of winning.
The author has seen that some medical experts have commented on James's injury on the Internet, and the conclusion is that the season is reimbursed, if this is the case, the author is more pessimistic, really only Westbrook eight consecutive games of the big outbreak can let the Lakers appear in the playoffs. But without James, what's the point of the Lakers making the playoffs? In fact, whether or not they can enter the playoffs, the Lakers should focus on the lineup planning for next season, and dealing with head coach Vogel, Westbrook and even thick eyebrows as soon as possible is the only chance to save the Lakers.