With the Lakers sitting at 9th in the Western Conference, Anthony Davis is aware of what’s at stake if they falter down the stretch. Speaking after LA’s 136-105 win over the Hawks this week, Davis opened up on what we should expect in the final months of the season and what it means now that “playoff LeBron” is starting to round into form.
“Bron is Bron,” Davis said, via Dave McMenamin. “Obviously, it’s that time of the year. Shooting the ball extremely well. In attack mode, finding guys. He’s been locked in defensively. So it’s that time of year, especially for us, where every game is a playoff game. So the time of the year, extensively lock in and get the job done.”
Anthony Davis on LeBron James turning up his level of play with 65 pts on 25-for-37 shooting the last couple games: “It’s that time of the year.” pic.twitter.com/XwhkLHRtqW
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) March 19, 2024
It’s been an up-and-down season for the Lakers, and while there have been flashes of greatness, it hasn’t been enough to separate them from the playoff bracket. With a record of 37-32, the Lakers are 9th in the West and a full three games back from a top-six seed.
In what’s been a mostly healthy season for Davis, he’s been doing his part to help the team, and his performance this year is the only reason they have a chance against the NBA’s elite. Through 65 games this season, the All-Star big man is averaging 24.4 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game on 53% shooting.
Yet, even with his powerful play, the Lakers have been mediocre, at best, and still look to be several tiers away from teams like the Thunder, Nuggets, and Minnesota Timberwolves.
With just a few weeks to go in the regular season, the Lakers should prepare for the play-in now so they can enter the tournament ready to compete from day one. If they can just win two play-in games and advance to the first round, LeBron James will give them a chance to pull off something special, and we already know he’s fully locked in on the mission.
LeBron James Is In Playoff Mode For The 2024 Postseason
If the Lakers are to stand any chance in the West this year, they will need LeBron James at his absolute best. This season, James has been spotty at times, and his defense has seen a noticeable drop-off from where it was a few seasons back. But even in year 21, his game is strong enough to carry the Lakers through the West, and there are signs that he’s gearing up for a massive push.
Since the All-Star break, King James has been on fire with averages of 28.3 points per game (top 5 in the NBA), 9.3 assists, and 7.3 rebounds on 58.5% shooting. The Lakers are just 7-6 in that span, but it’s good enough for them to hold a one-game lead over the Warriors for 9th.
Heading into the playoffs, the Lakers are facing a similar situation they did last year when they made the Finals as the 7th seed. While the road to the final round may be more challenging this time, LeBron James and Anthony Davis are making it clear that they will not give up as long as there’s a chance and only a fool would count them out before they are officially eliminated.
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