5 teams Lakers fans need to root against for a playoff spot

Kobe Bryant has made the playoffs 15 out of the 16 seasons he’s been in the NBA. Of this year, he has said, “It’s not a question of if we make the playoffs. We will. And when we get there, I have no fear of anyone — Oklahoma City, San Antonio, Denver … whoever. I have zero nervousness about that.” Kobe may be implicitly confident in his ability but the Lakers making it to the postseason is just as much about them winning as it is about the following teams losing.

The top eight teams in each conference qualify for the playoffs. Right now, the Warriors, Jazz and Rockets stand at 6, 7 and 8 in the West. The Lakers are 9th. To make it to the postseason, the Lakers will have to count on those teams losing.

They say that people are never more united as when they are against a common foe. It’s why people bond together so well when they crib about others. They say your destiny is always in your own hands. You alone can decide whether you will attain a goal in life. There is no sense in rooting for others to fail when you alone carve out your path. But when the goal is making it to the playoffs, it involves pushing aside other teams who are obstacles in that path. And actively praying for them to fail.

The Lakers fans are known for being a rowdy bunch when the excuse arises.

Every Laker fan need not be as hotheaded as those above. But some good old fashioned booing of other teams is always fun for sports fans. Here are five teams whose misfortune can result in the good fortune of the Lakers-

Golden State Warriors (33-25)

Steph Curry is a warrior in golden form. Over the last two games, he has shot 18 of 23 from three point range. But the Warriors have lost both games. They are now 3-7 over their last 10 games. The Lakers have got the best of Golden State in two of their last meetings. They won the first one 101-77 in November and 118-115 in December.

Utah Jazz (31-27)

The Jazz and the Lakers have had some memorable tussles over the years. But with the departure of coach Sloan and the lack of a franchise player on Utah’s squad, the rivalry has grown a bit cold. The Lakers have defeated the Jazz two of the three times these two teams have met this season.

Houston Rockets (31-28)

The Lakers have lost to the Rockets two of the three times these teams have met this season. If Metta World Peace were to concentrate his elbows on the rest of Harden’s teammates too, the Rockets can go into a tailspin. Someone book a ticket for Metta to Houston.

I’ve listed the threatening teams in order of their wins. In between the Rockets and Blazers, lie the Lakers with a 28-30 record. The greatest threats often come when your back is turned. The above teams all have a better record than the Lakers and the teams below are just snapping at the heels of the Lakers. If the Warriors/Jazz/Rockets end up surrendering their playoff spot, there is no guarantee that it will fall to the Lakers. The Blazers and Mavericks could also end up taking it.

Portland Trailblazers (26-30)

There is no love lost between the Lakers and Blazers. The Lakers have defeated the Blazers two of the three times these teams have met this season. The Blazers are the biggest threat to sneak up from behind and overtake the Lakers.

Dallas Mavericks (25-32)

Amnesty that, Mark Cuban. The Lakers have defeated the Mavericks two of the three times these two teams have met this season. And Mark Cuban has thrown fuel in the fire by suggesting that the Lakers ought to amnesty Kobe Bryant. The odds of the Mavericks making it to the postseason are quite remote though.

According to Basketball Reference’s 1000 simulations of the remainder of the season, the probability of the Lakers making it to the playoffs this season is 36.2%. The probability of Mavs is 2%. According to John Hollinger’s 5000 simulations, the Lakers have a 39.9% probability of making it to the postseason, while the Mavs have a 6.4% probability.

But all odds were in favour of the Lakers winning the championship in 2011 too, when they were swept by the Mavericks. Don’t discount Dallas just yet. Dirk is rediscovering his form of late; he just had a 21 point-20 rebound game, his first 20-20 game since 2003.

One factor which could give impetus to the playoff push of the Lakers is the return of Pau Gasol, if only it’s earlier than anticipated. “By the time he comes back,” D’Antoni said this week of Pau Gasol, “we’ll be in or out of the playoffs.”

There is no one coming to save the Lakers now. To make it to the playoffs, they need to stick together and avoid injury as they make an epic playoff push. Epic because of the high expectations from the Lakers this year. And how low they fell this season. Recently, the above five teams have not fared too well and the Laker fans reading this would do well to bring out voodoo dolls of the above five teams and hope for their demise for the remainder of the season if the Lakers are to make it to the playoffs this season.