Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Lakers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
There are three things in this life that are certain: death, taxes and the Western Conference playoff race being as tight as possible.
Once again, teams are bunched up together in the standings with the difference between the No. 3 seed and the No. 7 seed being just three-and-a-half games.
The Lakers are right in the middle of this congestion, at the sixth spot. With LA having 18 games left, they could just as easily rise in the standings as they can fall into a play-in spot.
For our SB Nation Reacts survey this week, we asked fans where the Lakers will finish in the playoff race. The results are in, and the majority of fans have the purple and gold ending the season as the fifth- or sixth-seed.
It makes sense that LA will likely stay where they are or move up marginally. According to Tankathon, the Lakers have the ninth-toughest remaining schedule, and all the teams they are competing against for a playoff spot have easier schedules, bar the Nuggets.
While 18 games is a lot of action left, the only way the Lakers move up to the No. 4 spot or better is by beating a bunch of teams with elite records. So far, they haven’t shown they can consistently do that, going 5-12 against teams with a .600 winning percentage or better.
However, if you are optimistic that a healthy Lakers team can begin besting these teams, then a higher seed is possible. Based on our poll, 36% of fans think that’s what’s going to happen in the coming weeks.
While moving up is tough, dropping down to the play-in is even less likely. Currently, only the Suns have a realistic chance of taking the No. 6 seed from the Lakers. With Dillon Brooks missing games and Phoenix going 5-5 over their last 10 games, they aren’t winning enough to gain ground in the West.
And that’s why only 11% of fans think the Lakers are play-in bound.
It’ll be up to them to show what kind of team they truly are now that every game has a bit more at stake.