With the Lakers' winning streak ending and their hopes of finishing sixth in the West dashed, the best thing the Lakers should do is to prepare for the play-offs. The Lakers, who showed their dark horse nature in the playoffs last season, still have this kind of strength this season, but after all the tactics have been familiar to the opponent, the Lakers will face more challenges, so they also need to be more adequate and comprehensive preparation.
At the moment, the Lakers are most likely to meet the Golden State Warriors in the playoffs. In the Western Conference semifinals last season, the Lakers eliminated their opponents against the Warriors and finally reached the Western Conference Finals. Both the Lakers and the Warriors have not been in good shape this season, but the Warriors are more eager to win against their opponents than the Lakers. Therefore, if the Lakers can't find a way to deal with it, they won't be able to withstand the Warriors' attack.
As the tactical core of the Lakers, James and Davis will obviously be targeted by opponents, especially Davis, who will face fierce physical confrontation and interference on the inside. James has averaged more than 28 points per game in each of his last 10 games, and the Warriors naturally won't let James easily find his groove on the offensive end. If James and Davis can't play these two points, then the Lakers need to have a surprise player.
Looking at the Lakers' current roster rotation, Russell is clearly the best option. Despite being plagued by trade rumors in the first half of the regular season, Russell showed the attitude of a professional player, and instead of slacking off, he played efficiently in the subsequent games and became the best player after the Lakers' All-Star Weekend, not only fighting back against trade rumors, but also helping the Lakers qualify for a play-in tournament.
In the face of the Warriors, the Lakers obviously need to use offense to offense, and use offense to consume the Warriors' counterattack. James and Davis need to retain their physical reserves when it comes to switching offense, so Russell needs to step up. What's more, after the adjustment in the second half of the season, Russell has become more and more consistent in shooting, and if he can find a sense on the offensive end, then it is likely to indirectly consume Curry.
In order to relieve the pressure on James and Davis, the Lakers added a lot of rotation on the outside, but in terms of practicality, it was Russell who was the most reliable. Russell's offensive efficiency this season has also been a strong focus on tandem with his teammates, often delivering clever passes. If Russell can connect the Lakers' offense, then James' physical reserves can be reduced and he can make an all-out attack at the most critical moment.
The Lakers qualified for the playoffs last season and have plenty of experience in this area, but they should be prepared against stronger opponents. Russell is obviously a big weapon for the Lakers, and the Lakers should also make good use of Russell to make more of a difference in his tactics and contribute to the team.