NBA recap: All-Star roundup, 3 storylines to monitor and games to watch
1. Will the Los Angeles Lakers really miss the playoffs?
The biggest storyline doesn’t have the intricacies and variables of the MVP discussion, nor does it take into account opinions of people in the media. It’s simple: Will the Los Angeles Lakers and LeBron James really miss the postseason?
It’s a scenario that has been discussed for the past month, but never taken seriously due to the fact everybody expected LeBron and the Lakers to pick up steam when he returned to the lineup. They are 2-3 since his insertion back into the rotation, and the Lakers find themselves three games back of the 8-seed. They are now underdogs to make the playoffs altogether.
The two factors they have working in their favor is the Los Angeles Clippers, current holders of the 8-seed, have to miss the playoffs to keep their 2019 first round selection (the Boston Celtics claim it if they make the postseason), so their incentive could be to fall out of the picture.
The Sacramento Kings are in between the Clippers and Lakers and have no intention of tanking themselves with, you guessed it, Boston owning the rights to their first round pick. Sacramento has been a treat to watch all season, but how well the team’s young players hold up in a playoff race will be interesting. Then again, the addition of Harrison Barnes adds experience and talent to their rotation.
Even the Minnesota Timberwolves are a game behind the Lakers and have the talent to make a small run. The point is, the Lakers fighting for a playoff spot after the All-Star break is not something they expected, just like the injuries that have plagued them since Christmas Day were not part of the plan.
It’s difficult to fathom a LeBron-less postseason. He hasn’t missed one since his second season in 2004-05, but this is the biggest threat to him watching the whole playoffs from his couch in L.A. Can he return to pre-injury form and ramp up his defensive effort to lead this team in the playoffs? We will see how LeBron reacts to his greatest regular season challenge to date.