Can the Lakers Get Hot With 24 Games Left In the Season?

The NBA All-Star Weekend has come and gone. The culmination of the NBA regular season kicks off this week, and the Lakers have 24 games remaining. Currently, the Lakers are 27-31 and are in 9th place in Western Conference, and if the season ended today they’d have to get into the playoffs via the play-in tournament.

Most people, including myself, didn’t see this coming for the Lakers. What started off as a preseason of certainty for many fans has culminated into a season of minuscule hopes at best.

Anthony Davis is injured. Again. LeBron James is defying time. Again. Frank Vogel is still throwing out strange rotations, but somehow if the Lakers can build on their last game before the break that saw them beat Utah, we could be in for a very interesting postseason for the Lakers.

I tell you this: for all the jokes about this team and the big talk from unproven young opponents, no one, and I mean no one, wants to play the Lakers in a playoff series. 

Moving Forward, The Lakers Need These Keys To Drive Into A Successful Postseason: 

1. Anthony Davis getting healthy is not the problem. AD staying healthy is the problem. A healthy AD from the time he returns and into the playoffs will prove righteous for the Lakers. 
2. LeBron continuing to be a beast among men will pay dividends for this team. Can he carry them at 37? I don’t know, but I’d rather have a LeBron who I know will try. 
3. A consistently good Russell Westbrook: With AD out, Russ has got to shoulder more of the load. If Russ can give 20, 8, and 8, the Lakers will have what they have needed him to be all season. And keep down the TOs. 
4. Malik Monk – his jumper and athleticism must be consistent. As Lamar Odom was to Kobe and Gasol, Monk has to be to LeBron and whoever. He has to be $. 
5. Austin Reeves & THT: The youth infusion is now. It can’t wait. The time is now for both Reeves and THT to put a stamp on this team with their defense and timely scoring. 
6. The bench has to step up or step the hell back! Namely, Melo, Ariza, Bradley, and Howard. I’m not going to be too hard on Howard because he still brings value to this team if Frank Vogel knew any better. And Melo…he’ll be Melo. Buckets! 
7. Warwick Dunn. Oh, I meant Kendrick Nunn. Give us something please!

Let’s see what the Lakers do with their remaining schedule. It all starts Friday night with a home game against the LA Clippers. Friday night would be a good time to begin to serve notice on the rest of the league that the Lakers aren’t dead. They might be down, but I don’t think they’re dead.