The Los Angeles Lakers head into the final weekend of the NBA regular season with momentum on the court but uncertainty surrounding their play-off positioning.
A dominant 101-73 victory over the Phoenix Suns secured a 52-29 record and guaranteed home-court advantage in the first round.
However, with the Western Conference standings still a moving puzzle, head coach JJ Redick admitted his side’s exact seeding remains out of their hands.
What he was far more certain about, though, was how the rest of the conference views his injury-hit roster.
“I’m sure everybody wants to play us,” Redick said pre-game. “Let’s get that out there, like, everybody wants to play us.”
Lakers play-off seeding scenario explained
The win over Phoenix ensured the Lakers can finish no lower than fourth in the West, but third place is still within reach heading into the final round of fixtures.
They currently sit one game behind the Denver Nuggets, who occupy the third seed at 53-28. Crucially, the Lakers hold the head-to-head tiebreaker, meaning a Denver slip combined with an LA victory would see Redick’s side climb into third.
The permutations are straightforward. Beat the Utah Jazz and hope Denver lose to the San Antonio Spurs, and the Lakers will secure the No. 3 seed. If both teams win, the Lakers remain fourth.
Third place would likely set up a first-round meeting with the Minnesota Timberwolves, while fourth would bring a clash with the Houston Rockets.
LeBron James steps up amid injury crisis
The context behind Redick’s comments is not unwarranted. The Lakers are currently without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, sidelined with Grade 2 hamstring and oblique injuries respectively.
Between them, the pair account for a significant portion of the team’s offensive output. But in their absence, LeBron James has stepped up.
The veteran delivered 28 points, 12 assists and six rebounds against Phoenix, continuing a remarkable run of form.
Across his last three outings, he is averaging 28 points on 60 percent shooting, alongside 12.7 assists and 7.7 rebounds.
“I had to tap back into a role that I’ve been accustomed to in the past,” James said. “Circumstances have put me back in there, and I’m just trying to make things happen for us to continue to stay afloat.”
His leadership has been complemented by contributions from role players, including Luke Kennard, who added 19 points against the Suns.
“You’re missing 60 points a game,” Kennard said. “But we also have LeBron, and the way he’s been playing and leading us has been incredible.”
Western Conference rivals circle weakened Lakers
Across the conference, teams are already managing workloads and positioning themselves for favourable matchups.
Denver’s recent win over the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder came with both sides resting multiple key players, despite the Nuggets’ seeding still being undecided.
“Teams are in a position where they can start looking forward to potential second-round matchups,” he said. “We see some of those teams rest their entire lineup basically.”
“We have to figure out the formula and the belief for this group to be successful,” Redick added. “That’s our focus.”
Lakers aiming to defy expectations in NBA playoffs
Regardless of where they land, the Lakers will enter the post-season carrying both momentum and scepticism.
Redick was keen to frame the broader picture, highlighting the significance of a campaign that has delivered over 50 wins despite sustained adversity.
“To clinch home court and to win 52 games, possibly 53, deal with the amount of adversity we had… it’s a credit to our players,” he said.
There is no disguising the challenge ahead. Injuries have altered the perception of the Lakers as contenders, and opponents may well view them as vulnerable.
Yet with James rediscovering a familiar level of influence and the supporting cast responding, LA remain a dangerous proposition.
