Third Seed and Championship Dreams

It’s official. The Los Angeles Lakers have clinched a PLAYOFF SPOT. And

with the blowout win against the Houston Rockets, the third seed is now

secured. This is the first time that we have not played in the play-in since

the creation of it (2020-21 season). This is also the first time that we have

had 50 or more wins since the 2019-20 bubble season. This team may not

be as deep as the 2020 team, but these stats show us that the current

Lakers are at least somewhat identical.

Regular Season Recap:

The first 3 games, the Lakers went 3-0 and faced the Timberwolves, Suns,

and Kings. Vibes were high and the energy was extraordinary. They then

went on to a 3-game losing streak and that is when Laker Nation began to

grow upset. But then we bounced back to go on to another 3-game win

streak. Then, in the 16 the game, Los Angeles faced the team that has

practically owned us for years, the Denver Nuggets. As usual, the Lakers

were up at halftime but then proceeded to lose the game. From that game

forward, the Lakers would have many resilient wins and unfortunate games

which LA lost like to the Detroit Pistons on December 23 rd . Fast forward to

December 29 th , there was a trade which the Lakers sent out D’Angelo

Russell, Maxwell Lewis, and three SRPs for Dorian Finney-Smith and

Shake Milton. This was the turning point of the season and in my opinion

was the most effective trade in the league to this day. We saw Austin

Reaves step into the point guard role and become a great shot creator for

others. LA desperately needed defense, 3pt shooting, and people to do the

dirty work and that is exactly what Dorian did for them. Laker Nation also

saw Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, Dorian, and Vanderbilt step up and do

better in their respective roles. Now, on to the most shocking trade in NBA

History. The Mavericks sent out Luka Doncic, Markieff Morris, Maxi Kleber

to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis, Max Christie,

and a 2029 FRP. This was the trade to secure the Lakers' future and ended

up being the turning point for us in terms of how the later part of the season

would be. The play style changed, and we started winning more games

against serious contenders and secured the future for LA. Now, the Lakers

have secured the 3 rd seed and now have a 50-win season.

Player and Coach Impact:

The Lakers have had many mediocre coaches throughout the years.

Including Darvin Ham, Luke Walton, debatably Frank Vogel, and Byron

Scott. But in my opinion, the new rookie coach, JJ Redick, has been

showing himself to be potentially the best Laker coach since Phil Jackson. I

say this because Redick showcased his adaptability, his tricks, his

schemes, and his way to get what he wants out of his players. Despite

initial doubts from the fan base, JJ exceeded expectations and led the team

to a 50-win season and the third seed in the western conference. He

developed Max Christie, Jalen Hood-Schifino, and Dalton Knecht and

turned them into exceptional role players for. Christie and Hood-Schifino

have both been traded but they are still decent for their respective teams.

Now, on to player impact. I think the three players that had the most impact

on this team is by far DFS, Gabe Vincent, and Jaxson Hayes. I do not think

it would be Luka, Reaves, or Lebron solely because we know what they

can and will do on a game-to-game basis. For Vincent, he has been able to

give the Lakers solid perimeter defense and catch-and-shoot 3s. He has

been highly valuable to the team, and LA would not have won certain

games if it was not for Gabe 3s. Dorian Finney-Smith has been able to do

the same, but he does it in a different way. DFS brings the grit and the dog

mentality that the Lakers have missed since Vanderbilt was out. He does

the dirty work on defense and makes consistent catch-and-shoot 3s on

offense. Now on to Jaxson Hayes’s impact. He has had the most impact on

the team in my opinion. Replacing Anthony Davis is not an easy task. While

he of course fully does not replace AD, he has done enough for the Lakers

for them to become the third seed in the West. Hayes has given the Lakers

a boost in athleticism, versatility, and makes them more reliant on team

offense and team defense which has worked. Clearly, he would be a better

backup center but is doing well as a starter.

Conclusion:

To end off this article, The Lakers regular season was full of the highest of

highs, the lowest of lows, the funniest of moments, and the most shocking

season of any season in a while. From the DLO-DFS trade to Lebron going

0-19 from three-point range for a four game stretch all the way to the Luka-

AD trade, the Lakers still manage to go 50-32 to lock down the third seed

and face the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round. I, of course, hope

the Lakers go all the way to win the Finals. It for sure will not be easy

though as the Lakers have just lost Game 1, won Game 2, and lost Game

3. Do you think the Lakers can hold their own in the playoffs?