Thursday’s Lakers-Warriors showdown has massive implications
The Los Angeles Lakers have had an up-and-down 2023-24 season thus far but entered the All-Star Break with some momentum.
Things are finally starting to click for the purple and gold, who look to carry that momentum into the second half against the Golden State Warriors.
Unfortunately, the Lakers are going to be short-manned against the Warriors on Thursday.
LeBron James is out of action with an ankle injury while Christian Wood is now out for the next two weeks. In addition to the other rotation injuries, this leaves LA very short-handed.
Typically it wouldn’t be that big of a deal to be short-manned in a February game. There is plenty of games left to play, so it is easier to look at the bigger picture.
This game is different, however, as the circumstances of this Lakers-Warriors game make it a must-win for both sides.Thursday’s Lakers-Warriors showdown could decide a spot in the Western Conference finalsThe Lakers and Warriors are in a very good shape similar positions.
Both teams are led by veteran stars and had to overcome slow starts to the season.
However, both Los Angeles and Golden State are starting to heat up and look like two teams no one wants to play in the playoffs.
However, the West is loaded with talent and the playoffs are only six games away. places in the regular season. Anything below that must go through a Play-In tournament.
Both the Lakers and the Warriors know the Tournament and want to avoid it.Currently, the Lakers are ninth and the Warriors are 10th.
There’s a very good chance these two teams will compete for the final playoff spot in the West without needing to make the cut.
Even though teams can’t get that high, it makes a big difference if it’s seventh or eighth, not ninth or tenth.
In those situations, head-to-head records matter, which is what makes this game so important. . . Last year, the Lakers had the head-to-head advantage over the Pelicans, finishing one game behind LA.
That back-to-back advantage gave the Lakers extra padding and ensured that the team would be seventh or eighth.It could very well happen this season because this game is 25% from this end. -solve the equation.
The Lakers are already 1-0 against the Warriors this season, which means a win against Golden State will ensure the Warriors can’t win back-to-back games. Golden State can win the next two to force different playoff games, but they can’t win back-to-backs.
Everything is very important, except for the fact that the Warriors can win a game at the Lakers. with a win.
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