Lakers receive a much-needed double dose of great news amid a playoff push

After a post-NBA Cup slump, the Los Angeles Lakers have played much better of late and are hoping to keep the momentum going as they make their playoff push. With the Lakers guaranteed to make at least the play-in tournament, they can set their sights on climbing in the standings to improve their postseason position and will soon be getting some much-needed reinforcements.

Both Gabe Vincent, who has missed most of the year with injuries and Jarred Vanderbilt are expected to be back within the next two weeks. That will give them around seven games or so to try to get back in rhythm ahead of the playoffs but how much will they help the Lakers when they return?

A healthy Los Angeles Lakers could make a deep playoff run.

The Lakers offense, despite having LeBron James and Anthony Davis, ranks only 17th in offensive rating. That is largely due to them being last in 3-point attempts as well as being 26th in 3-point makes. Getting Vincent back in the lineup will help address that issue and will hopefully improve their offense as they enter the postseason.

On the other end of the floor. Vanderbilt is known for his versatility as a defensive player and his energy level. The Lakers have the 15th-ranked defense and when the game slows down in the playoffs, they will need to rely on it to take them far in the postseason. After making it all the way to the Western Conference Finals last year and winning the NBA Cup this season, the Lakers' core is definitely battle-tested.

Better still for the Lakers, the West appears to be wide open, with no team completely running away with the conference, unlike in the East with the Boston Celtics. Still, they may have to go through the Denver Nuggets, who have dominated them of late. As a result, the Lakers must be at full strength if they hope to catch fire and make another deep playoff run.