The Lakers' 116-97 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers was not just an ordinary win, but an important step in their push to finish in the West and avoid the play-in tournament. Now, let's talk about the Lakers' hope of squeezing into the top six, why do you say that the Timberwolves will look at the face in the end?
First of all, I have to mention that the Lakers' recent performance is simply explosive! Win 9 out of 10 games, this is the rhythm of heaven! However, the hole dug at the beginning of the season is too big, and now if you want to climb out, in addition to working hard, you have to look at other people's faces.
The Lakers are currently ranked among the top eight in the West, and the top six positions are within reach, but in order to enter the top six, in addition to continuing to maintain a high winning rate, the performance of the opponent is also crucial. Especially the Pelicans and Suns, these two teams are like two mountains at the gates of the first six gates of the Lakers, and the Lakers have to find a way to get around.
The Pelicans' situation, to be honest, is not optimistic. Ingram is out of action, Zion is also recovering from an injury, and McCollum is supporting him alone, and it will not be difficult to win all of the next five games. And what about the Suns, in addition to direct dialogue with the Pelicans, they also have to face the hard bones of the Clippers, and there are Kings and Timberwolves waiting for them in the back, this schedule is simply hell mode.
So, what about the Lakers? Relatively speaking, the Lakers have an advantage. In addition to the Timberwolves, the Lakers have a chance to win against the Warriors, Grizzlies and Pelicans. Especially the Timberwolves, although they don't have much record pressure now and seem to play casually, if the Lakers win this game, the probability of entering the top six will be greatly increased.
Therefore, whether the Lakers can enter the top six, the Timberwolves' every move is crucial. If the Timberwolves show mercy when they play the Suns, coupled with the Lakers' own performance in the future, then the Lakers' dream of a top-six finish could come true. However, it's all based on the assumption that the Lakers themselves are going to continue to have a high winning rate and can't afford to miss every game.
Let's take a look at the Lakers' side, although the Warriors and Pelicans will put pressure on the Lakers, but based on the previous matchup, the Lakers have an advantage. As long as the Lakers can maintain their current form, and the Timberwolves can do a small favor against the Suns, then the Lakers' top-six finish is almost a certainty.
In general, the Lakers need not only to work their own, but also to see the face of the Timberwolves. Of course, we can't ignore the performance of the Suns and Pelicans, and if they suddenly come out of the blue, the Lakers' top-six dreams may also be disappointed. But in any case, the Lakers' performance has already been eye-catching, and every game in the future is worth looking forward to.
In this way, the Lakers' journey to the top six is full of variables and challenges, but there is also hope and opportunities. For fans, every game is not to be missed, so let's wait and see if the Lakers can achieve their top-six dream with the help of the Timberwolves.