As the Lakers slowly climb up the Western Conference standings, it’s looking more and more likely that they will secure a top 6 seed in the West before the end of the season.
If they can just hang on until LeBron James returns, they could be poised to make a strong playoff run this spring.
Sadly, however, the status of James’ return is still up in the air, and the possibility exists that we might not see him play at all for the rest of this season. Speaking to Landon Buford, Dr. Marco Nunez (Lakers’ former head athletic trainer) explained why we could have seen the last of King James for a while.
“That’s the thing about it. My gut feeling is telling me yes. What is going to happen is they are going to wait and see how the Lakers are doing in play-in or for playoffs. Are they going to bring him back for the tourney to try to sink in or hold off & see if they make the playoffs?”
Is LeBron James Done For Reg Season w Foot Tendon Injury? Ex-Lakers' Head Athletic Trainer Dr. Marco Nunez Weighs-In:
"That's the thing about it. My gut feeling is telling me yes. What is going to happen is they are going to wait & see how the Lakers are doing in play-in or for… pic.twitter.com/4lVKIxMyuI
— Landon Buford (@LandonBuford) March 9, 2023
Obviously, LeBron is more likely to return if the Lakers are above the play-in line, but the Lakers may still decide to let him rest, depending on how they feel about their chances to get out of the West.
Assuming they make the play-in and move on to the first round, the path to the Finals would be daunting, to say the least.
Can Lakers Win The West This Postseason?
Somehow, despite a 2-10 start to the season, the Purple and Gold have nearly climbed back to .500 on the season, and they are in a position to secure a playoff spot over the next few weeks.
With newcomers like Malik Beasley, Jarred Vanderbilt, and D’Angelo Russell, the Lakers are a different team than the one we saw before the trade deadline.
But without LeBron James, there’s only so far they can go, and his return is far from a guarantee.
“No team is a threat with just one superstar,” said Shannon Sharpe. “What we see in the NBA currently are teams are trying to get at least two. Some teams are trying to get three. We don’t know if and when LeBron is coming back. What if, during the evaluation, it’s not gotten any better? Is LeBron coming back [then]? No.”
So, all we can do now is wait and see how LeBron’s foot heals and if he’s able to come back in time to help the Lakers make a meaningful run in the West.
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