For the Lakers to have the best chance of winning the West in 2023, they should take the Heat’s route.
For the second year in a row, the Los Angeles Lakers are participating in the Play-In Tournament. They defeated the Pelicans in their final game to secure eighth place, and they will stay in New Orleans for a rematch to start the play-in round. Although LeBron James and company are strong favorites to secure the seventh seed, will they be able to go far in the playoffs?
Last year, LeBron led his squad on one. They advanced to the conference finals after defeating the Grizzlies and Warriors after defeating the Timberwolves to earn the seventh spot. Even though the Lakers were defeated by the Nuggets in the end, it was still an incredible and unlikely run.
Denver is waiting for the Lakers in the opening round of the playoffs if they follow the same course. In such series, LA would be overwhelming underdogs since they have no answers for Nikola Jokic. The Lakers might go on an ever longer run if they take a cue from Pat Riley and the Miami Heat.
The Lakers can improve their chances of making the playoffs by adopting the 2023 Heat’s strategy.
The previous season, the Heat finished eighth in the Eastern Conference and lost to the Hawks in the Play-In Tournament. It forced them into a game versus the Bulls that was win-or-go-home. In order to secure the eighth seed and get to the NBA Finals, Miami had to overcome the Bucks, Knicks, and Celtics. Although they didn’t match up well with the Nuggets, Jimmy Butler and his group did set the standard.
It may be to the Lakers’ favor to lose their first Play-In game because they do not want to play the Nuggets in the first round. It is frightening that they would host the victor of Warriors vs. Kings. Although both teams have the ability to defeat LA, the winner of the game provides LeBron James and company with a favorable path.
The Thunder, who are ranked first, are weak against big teams and lack postseason experience. LeBron James and Anthony Davis might feast while the Lakers pull off the upset. The Nuggets were poised on the other side of the bracket, and the victor of Dallas vs. the Clippers would face them in the conference semifinals.
Who would be healthy at that point is unknown. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jayson Tatum’s ailments were used by the Heat to go to the NBA Finals. A deep playoff run requires a great deal of skill and a little bit of luck. While they needed more to make a deep run in the postseason, the Lakers received enough to finish eighth.
The 2023 Heat and the 2024 Lakers are similar in a few ways.
The Lakers and Heat of the previous year were coming off trips to the conference finals, and they didn’t perform up to par to qualify for the play-in round. Both experienced offensive problems and placed 27th or lower in 3-point percentage.
In order to lead his team to the NBA Finals during the playoffs, Jimmy Butler improved his play. LeBron James will have to do the same for the Lakers. King James is no stranger to long postseason runs; he owns four rings. Each have components surrounding their best alternatives and an All-Star big man. It won’t be easy, but LA has the talent. Can they replicate the Heat’s strategy and go far in the playoffs? The Lakers will definitely try.
If the Los Angeles Lakers head out of town early in the postseason, there will be changes this summer. This year marks LeBron James’ 40th birthday, and he has no time to waste. Keep an eye out for any blockbuster trade the team pulls off this summer.