Slice Wass/Related Press
Losers of three straight games and 7 of their last nine, the Los Angeles Lakers are flirting with being knocked down into the play-in for the 2021 postseason.
Anthony Davis doesn’t seem concerned.
“Right here’s the bottom now we had been rapidly. No longer less than in the last two years. … However the finest manner is up. We undoubtedly can not receive any decrease than this,” Davis suggested newshounds after Sunday’s 121-114 loss to the Toronto Raptors.
The Lakers, Portland Run Blazers and Dallas Mavericks luxuriate in the same 36-28 file with eight games closing in the traditional season. The Lakers currently desire the No. 6 seed on memoir of of tiebreakers that give them an profit over Portland, nonetheless they must present things around to remain a ways from doubtlessly missing the postseason altogether.
If the Lakers drop to the No. 7 seed, they’ll face off in a one-sport playoff in opposition to the No. 8 seed to occupy the 7 situation for the playoffs. If the Lakers had been to lose that sport, they would then play the winner of the No. 9 vs. No. 10 sport for the rights to the No. 8 seed.
Whereas it can perchance appear no longer going that the Lakers would lose every games and drop out of the playoffs altogether, they’re combating chemistry as they work Davis and LeBron James reduction into the lineup. James has clearly been at less than 100 p.c since getting again from a excessive ankle sprain Friday in opposition to the Kings, averaging 17.5 aspects, 7.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists in two games. Davis hasn’t been particularly simply all season and has been impolite since his return from a calf stress and Achilles tendinosis, averaging 16.5 aspects on 39.4 p.c shooting whereas adding 6.7 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in six games.
The Lakers’ subsequent 5 games are all in opposition to groups which could perchance be currently in the playoffs, starting with the red-hot Nuggets on Monday evening. It is unclear if James has been ramped up sufficient to play in reduction-to-reduction games, nonetheless he doesn’t seem to luxuriate in basic option with the Lakers’ playoff hopes at risk. Nonetheless, he did race away Sunday’s sport early with ankle soreness.
It is moreover price noting that the 1994-95 Houston Rockets are the finest group in NBA historical previous to desire a championship with out a need home-court docket profit in any round of the playoffs.
