The Los Angeles Lakers might see LeBron James suiting up for their final three games of the regular season.
Per ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, the veteran is targeting a comeback at the end of LA’s regular-season stretch. Their final three games are against the LA Clippers, Phoenix Suns, and the Utah Jazz — three teams that are in playoff contention and placed above the Lakers in the West at the time of writing.
LeBron James is aiming to return for the Lakers’ final 3 games, per @mcten pic.twitter.com/yeTHhaXvJJ
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) March 23, 2023
This comes on the back of reports that suggested that James may not be at his healthiest when he returns to the Lakers fold. He last played on February 26 against the Dallas Mavericks and hasn’t suited up for the side since after his ankle injury forced him out.
Earlier NBA insider Chris Haynes had an update on James’ return, and it wasn’t an optimistic one: “I reported a few weeks ago that… the Lakers had to try and do whatever they could to try to win as many games as possible to give LeBron James as much time to recover as possible. So that means that even when he does come back, he might not be fully healthy, but (they are) just trying to buy him some time.”
It’s worth mentioning that the Lakers have done well in James’ absence, with their most recent win coming against the Phoenix Suns. It remains to be seen if they can keep up their winning run and not put too much of their hopes on the forward if he returns for the final three games.
What Are The Lakers’ Chances Of Making The NBA 2022-23 Playoffs?
Quite simply, the Lakers will need to win all their games to make the playoffs while avoiding the play-in tournament. They don’t necessarily have an easy schedule as their very next contest against OKC — a team in the playoff race themselves poses a formidable threat.
The win against Phoenix now puts them at 36-37 and tenth in the West. The Lakers play the Chicago Bulls twice, and winning there will see them in a better position to make the playoffs. Per FiveThirtyEight, the Lakers have a 55% chance of making the postseason.
It does help if they get James back for the final three games, but in the nine games remaining, winning seven would at least take the heat off them in what has been a tight Western Conference.
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