The Los Angeles Lakers delivered yet another uninspiring performance in last night’s loss to the Houston Rockets, as they continue to look like a team that has clinched the No. 1 seed in the West and is just counting the days until they can start the NBA playoffs. Meanwhile, what has been inspiring so far have been the performances from the teams in the Western Conference fighting for the opportunity to play the Lakers in the first round, while there have also been some other disappointing performances that are changing the outlook for the Lakers.
Devin Booker and the 10th place Phoenix Suns have been the NBA’s Bubble Cinderella, going on a 4-0 start have crept to within two games of the Memphis Grizzlies, who have gone 0-4 and have also lost forward Jaren Jackson Jr. for the remainder of the season with a knee injury. Then, you have the Blazers who were in 9th coming into the bubble but are taking care of business, going 3-1 to begin their seeding games with four to go. Portland is now only a half-game behind Memphis for the 8th seed in the West.
Elsewhere in the West race, the Spurs have gone 2-2 and are right behind Phoenix. Meanwhile, New Orleans has struggled mightly going 1-3 in their first four games and the Sacramento Kings finally got their first win of the bubble yesterday against the Pelicans, who have had Zion Williamson on a minutes restriction and have played some of the worst defense we’ve seen in the seeding games.
As it stands right now, Portland and Phoenix look to be on a collision course for a play-in series. A Memphis win in their next four games would boost their hopes of staying in the 9th spot, but without Jackson and with a tough schedule ahead, it won’t be easy for Memphis to have a chance at the playoffs, let alone hold the upper hand in the play-in series.
As a reminder, the team in 8th place has to only beat the 9th seed in the play-in once, while the 9th seeded team must win twice in a row to earn a spot in the postseason.
San Antonio, Memphis, New Orleans, and Sacramento all play on Friday, which will only continue to impact the battle to get into the postseason.
