NBA 2018-19: 3 Reasons Why the Lakers Might Still Make the Playoffs

LeBron suffered the worst loss of his career in a 42-point beatdown by the Pacers a few nights ago. Ever since that, the Lakers have beaten Boston at the buzzer and lost their most recent one in Philly by 23 points. To summarise the current status quo down in LA, things do not look good.

Luke Walton and the Lakers are currently 2.5 games behind the eighth seed (Los Angeles Clippers). With a 28-28 win-loss record next to their name, they are not in any position to inspire confidence in any expert about their probable playoff berth.

Plagued by injuries to prominent players on the roster, the hole is seeming almost insurmountable from an outside view. But what lies beneath the surface might be leaving more of an imprint than the physical injuries. The recent public showcase of putting everyone on the trade black for Anthony Davis by the front office has left a deep scar on the minds of the young core. There's no remedy to it. Magic Johnson cannot undo what has been there in the public domain for quite some time now.

However, as the Lakers currently stand outside of playoff picture looking in, there seems to be an intuitive voice in place that suggests they just might bag a playoff berth before push comes to shove.

Keeping in mind the aforementioned narrative of a grim Lakers future, let's list a bunch of reasons that suggest otherwise.

#1 Lonzo Ball is expected to return after the All-Star break

Lonzo Ball was one of the key players offered in a trade for AD.

From Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times,

The Lakers are also expecting to get Ball back after the All-Star break. The point guard suffered a left ankle sprain Jan. 19 against the Houston Rockets and was expected to be out four to six weeks.

Lonzo has since missed nine games, and is expected to miss the Hawks matchup as well before All-Star break kicks in. This will give Lonzo and the Lakers nine more days before the next game.

The Rockets game on 22nd February might be the one where the Lakers would want to reintroduce Lonzo into the lineup. The sophomore point guard is averaging almost 10 points and 5.4 assists a game across the 47 matchups he has participated in this season so far.

#2 Almost half of their upcoming games are against sub 0.500 teams

Luke Walton's role might diminish with time as playoff LeBron reincarnates

The Lakers are almost fit and are playing with heart. They will get a much-needed break because of the All-Star break, which will surely help their wounded soldiers recover without pressure.

If planned out well, the Lakers can easily sneak their way in past the Kings and the Clippers, to land a ticket for the postseason. There are still 26 games left before the Lakers' regular season draws to a close. They have to win just 7 games more to match their wins total from the previous season, although they might be willing to go all out for a mad streak each and every game.

Many a time, LA throw away the game in the dying moments. However, The Lakers have shown the grit needed to topple reputed teams in the ever-so-competitive Western Conference. They just need to calm their horses down the stretch and trust their instincts, in order to pull through for what they already deserve, and that is, to close games that they are supposed to win.

#3 LeBron is coming into his own ever since his return from hibernation

LeBron James is NBA's all-time leading scorer in the playoffs

LeBron has been averaging a triple-double ever since his return from injury. Safe to say, he is making up for the lost time in more ways than just scoring.

To witness an NBA postseason without LeBron is something none of us are accustomed to. The man has been playing in the NBA Finals for the past eight seasons, and leads the league in points scored in the playoffs. It just doesn't feel right to even think that he would not muscle up for a final push to save his playoff legacy.

Last year was a testament of what James is capable of in a playoff run. The only difference this year is that he'll need the same killer instinct to get to the postseason to begin with. Time and again, he has stressed on the importance of including the young core in the rotation down the stretch and at not being ball-hog.

Well, if the sirens get any louder for the Lakers, you might as well get the chance to observe a hostile LeBron James doing it all by himself. And there's nothing that even hints at the possibility that he can't.