NBA Analyst Explains How The Lakers Can Make The Playoffs

The Los Angeles Lakers cannot afford another tough stretch at this point in the season.

They have more than enough talent in their ranks to get hot when it matters the most, so they need their stars to be available the rest of the way.

LeBron James recently vowed to do whatever it takes to play in every single one of their 23 remaining games, going as far as to call them the most important regular-season games of his career.

Notably, he’ll need Anthony Davis to do the same, as the Lakers are a whole different team when he sits out with countless nagging pains and ailments.

However, that’s when things might get tough for the purple and gold, says NBA analyst Nick Wright.

Per Wright, we all know Davis is due to miss even more time at some point, and the Lakers have little-to-no margin for error if they intend to make a playoff run:

“I think they need to go 14-9 to guarantee themselves a spot in the Play-in,” Wright said. “‘Cause that’ll be 41-41, and I would be shocked if that doesn’t at least get you in the Play-In.”

"The Lakers need to go 14-9 to guarantee themselves a spot in the Play-in."

— @getnickwright on LeBron, AD and the Lakers final 23 games of the regular season: pic.twitter.com/d4wDdB5evC

— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) February 20, 2023

Going 14-9 seems doable for Darvin Ham’s team, especially after adding so much talent before the trade deadline.

But the team still needs to develop rapport and figure things out on the court, and they’ve been on the wrong end of some games they should’ve won.

The Lakers need to execute better down the stretch, especially on the defensive end of the floor.

Also, they need to make sure to keep their morale high, as things won’t be easy down the stretch.

But hey, if someone can pull it off, that’s definitely LeBron James and Anthony Davis.