The good news: Los Angeles Lakers have made the playoffs. The bad news is: They only have a 3% chance of winning the NBA Finals.
Or at least, that’s what analytics site FiveThirtyEight suggests. The updated numbers gave LA a miserly 3% chance of winning the championship. Just to lend more insight, here are the chances of the other West teams who made the postseason:
Denver Nuggets: 13%
Golden State Warriors: 9%
Memphis Grizzlies: 5%
Phoenix Suns: 4%
LA Clippers: 0.8%
Sacramento Kings: 0.1%
By the looks of it, the Lakers fall below the Suns with 3%. It should be noted that these predictions are based on accounts for recent injuries and other player activity.
The Lakers have been one of the more improved sides in the second half of the season. Despite LeBron James missing out on 28 games, the side has been formidable and capable, notching up wins. Anthony Davis stepped up despite battling dogged back and foot issues averaging 25.9 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks.
The rest of the roster has played their part chipping in at key intervals, and while that was enough to get them to the playoff, it remains to be seen if they can go the distance irrespective of the numbers that stack the odds against them.
Can The Lakers Make A Deep Playoff Run And Stake A Claim For The Title?
The projections’ site gives the Lakers a mixed 43% chance of beating the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the playoffs. But they do have only half that chance of making the Conference Finals.
But this is the NBA, and stranger things have happened before. LeBron James has a playoff mode and while he may be the underdog heading into the postseason, the Lakers will believe that they stand a chance as long as he’s healthy. Factor in an in-form Anthony Davis and a promising squad, and they have the necessary tools to make the Finals.
Before all of that, a Grizzlies threat looms, and the Lakers will have to use their championship DNA to good effect.
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