The Lakers returned to Southern California on Thursday, satisfied with their recent performance over the past week and a half. They managed to win five out of six games during an 11-day road trip, maintaining their solid position in the Western Conference, sitting in third place.
Yet, with just over two weeks left in the regular season and nine games ahead, starting with a match against the Nets, they understand there’s still a lot to accomplish as they aim for the playoffs.
Here are nine key storylines to keep an eye on as the regular season wraps up.
1. Defensive Rebounding Challenges
Despite winning 13 of their last 15 games leading up to Friday, the Lakers know they can improve in several areas.
A critical concern has been defensive rebounding, which has seen a decline during their recent success.
They previously ranked seventh in defensive rebounding percentage (70.3) before the All-Star break, but have fallen to 17th (68.9) since then, even dropping to 22nd (68) during March’s 14 games as of Friday.
This drop could be partly due to facing teams like the Rockets and Pistons, known for their strong offensive rebounding.
“We must enhance our defensive rebounding. I think a lot of it comes from being aware of who’s on the court and not just ball watching,” coach JJ Reddick remarked. “It’s about understanding the personnel involved.”
2. Luka Doncic’s MVP Aspirations
Luka Doncic’s incredible performances in March have boosted his status as a leading MVP candidate.
As of Friday, he was averaging 36.9 points (with 48.4% shooting, and 38.1% from three), alongside 8.2 rebounds and 7.4 assists for the month, including a career-high streak of 11 consecutive games scoring 30 or more points.
Consequently, he moved up to No. 2 on NBA.com’s MVP ladder.
3. LeBron James’ Record Pursuits
LeBron James continues to dominate numerous league records, recently surpassing Robert Parrish for the most regular season games played.
He reached his 1,226th career win in regular season and playoff games, now trailing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record of 1,228 wins.
While Abdul-Jabbar holds the record for most regular season victories (1,074), James already leads with the most playoff wins (183).
4. Managing Player Health
The Lakers are in control of their path to secure the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference as they approach the playoffs.
So, how will teams tackle lingering injuries as the season winds down?
“We’ll manage it,” Reddick stated. “We aim to win and play smartly.”
Guard Marcus Smart missed his third consecutive game against the Nets due to an ankle injury, while Rui Hachimura returned for the match after sitting out the previous two games. Deandre Ayton also played after missing Wednesday’s game due to back pain.
5. Chasing Win Records
With a record of 47-26 as of Friday, the Lakers need to finish 6-3 in their final nine games if they hope to achieve their highest win total since the 2010-11 season, which saw them win 57 games. They haven’t had back-to-back seasons above a 60% win rate since 2009-2011.
6. Jake LaRavia’s Longevity
Jake LaRavia managed to participate in all 82 games, a rarity in today’s NBA.
He is among 19 players on track to complete the full season without missing a game.
7. Austin Reeves’ Scoring Efficiency
Austin Reeves is currently enjoying one of the most efficient scoring seasons for guards in the league.
His true shooting percentage of 64.2% ranks ninth in league history for guards averaging at least 20 points and playing 45 or more games in a season. Only a few guards have had more efficient seasons, including Stephen Curry and Damian Lillard.
8. Competing Against Champions
The Lakers have managed to beat every team in the Western Conference at least once, except for the defending champions.
They have two remaining chances to defeat the Thunder this season: one game in Oklahoma City and another at Crypto.com Arena on April 7th.
9. Potential Playoff Matchups
The Lakers are anticipated to face either the Rockets or the Timberwolves in the first round of their playoff series. They’ve had success against both teams during the regular season.
