Hoops Habit
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Ranking Western Conference contenders after the trade deadline

By Ari Schwartz

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 08: Kyrie Irving #2 of the Dallas Mavericks at Crypto.com Arena on February 08, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 08: Kyrie Irving #2 of the Dallas Mavericks at Crypto.com Arena on February 08, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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PORTLAND, OREGON – FEBRUARY 13: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers. (Photo by Amanda Loman/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OREGON – FEBRUARY 13: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers. (Photo by Amanda Loman/Getty Images) /

3. Los Angeles Lakers

At 13th in the Western Conference and 6 games below .500, the Lakers do not currently look like contenders or even a realistic second-round exit at this point. However, it’s impossible to deny the potential they have when they’re at their best.

The Lakers made some nice additions at the deadline, acquiring point guard D’Angelo Russell, three-point sniper Malik Beasley, and an elite defensive player in Jarred Vanderbilt, along with other role players Rui Hachimura and Mo Bamba, giving them the depth they badly needed earlier in the season. And obviously, when two of the best players on the planet in Lebron James and Anthony Davis are on the court for the Lakers, all you need is competent players to win the game.

The problem is that this has rarely been the case in the past couple of years. Injuries to Lebron and AD have always come at the worst possible times, such as earlier this season when Davis got hurt as the Lakers started to win, or recently following the trade deadline when Lebron suffered an ankle injury .

Still, we know how much this postseason will matter to Lebron, and assuming he can come back in time for the Lakers to maintain a playoff spot, we can count on him to carry Los Angeles to a win against any of the aforementioned teams. Help from Davis, assuming he remains healthy, could have the Lakers competing with the two teams listed ahead of them.