The Lakers stand on the precipice of their disappointing season.
They’ve 5 video games left to proper all of the wrongs they’ve but to appropriate within the first 77 regular-season video games.
A spot within the playoff play-in sport is all they need to play for now, and even getting from the eleventh seed they at the moment occupy to the tenth seed they should lengthen their season will take a variety of work.
“Well, until it says we’re eliminated, it doesn’t. Until that moment, we’ll know what our destiny is, but right now, we don’t,” LeBron James mentioned late Friday night time after his 38 factors and eight rebounds in 39½ minutes nonetheless couldn’t cease the Lakers from dropping their fifth straight sport and dropping additional down the Western Convention standings. “So, keep pushing forward.”
The Lakers are one sport behind the Spurs for the ultimate play-in spot within the West, and San Antonio owns the tiebreaker.
After losing to the Pelicans 114-111 Friday night time at Crypto.com Area, the Lakers are three video games behind New Orleans, which swept Los Angeles this season 3-0.
Anthony Davis, who returned Friday after recovering from his newest damage, mentioned, “I think there is a lot of belief” within the group having the ability to win all of them.
“We know what we’re playing for,” Davis mentioned. “We know the position that we’re in. We know we’re playing against some top teams. So, I think we have to believe. I don’t think it’s hope. We don’t play off hope and ‘let’s hope we win this game.’ We have belief and I believe. I know … everyone in that locker room believes. We’ve got to go out and get it done. It’s that simple. We have to win these games and we have to have that approach.”
The Lakers and Spurs have 5 video games remaining, and each groups have powerful schedules.
The Lakers host the Denver Nuggets on Sunday, then play at Phoenix (Tuesday) and Golden State (Thursday). They host Oklahoma Metropolis April 8 and shut the common season April 10 at Denver.
The Spurs host the Portland Trail Blazers, then play at Denver and Minnesota earlier than returning residence to host Golden State and end at Dallas.
“I don’t look at San Antonio at all,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel mentioned. “I mean, obviously, finding out what their scores look like. But our focus is going to be on what we can control and that’s winning the next game. … The next game’s in front of us. The recovery starts now. We’re playing essentially three games in three nights with a 12:30 start. That’s such a quick turnaround it’s ridiculous, so mental and physical recovery starts now. And as a coaching staff, you turn your attention to whatever you’ve got to do for Denver.”
The following sport is towards the Nuggets at Crypto.com Area on Sunday, and the Lakers might not be at full power.
James returned to play after lacking the earlier two video games with a left ankle sprain.
“Well, for me personally, it’s to get started working on this ankle obviously,” James mentioned. “It’s pretty sore right now. So early start on Sunday. Hopefully it reacts the proper way for me in the morning when I wake up and I have no setbacks. So, for me, that’s the most important thing. Us as a team, it’s a tough loss for us. So, we get an opportunity tomorrow to kind of decompress and have the day off, then get back at it.”
Davis had missed 18 straight video games on account of a proper mid-foot sprain.
“I felt good,” Davis mentioned. “Last four minutes was definitely a struggle. … Been a little sore. To that point, I felt really good. We know the situation that we’re in. Even though soreness in the foot, soreness in LB’s ankle, we felt like this was a game we had to play and obviously the next five games as well.”
This story initially appeared in Los Angeles Times.
