2017-18 Lakers Season Watch Thread (27-34, 10th Slot on 3/2)

[CelticsElite]

Lakers play wolves at 8pm today. No time for rest lol

Magic vs nets  , doesn’t matter who wins

Need bulls to beat blazers

[GreenShooter]

Too bad the season doesn't end today.
Otherwise, let's not overlook the fact that the second worst record and the 10th spot are only 1.5 games apart. It is going to be a roller coaster of a ride the rest the season. Let's keep an even keel for now.

[Neurotic Guy]

Now we need to make sure the Lakers do not fall to the worst record in NBA or that'll deter our pick.

I'd love to see LAL drop many games below their closest competitors for the worst record.  Will need a nice cushion heading into the last third of the season when teams accept their fates as non-playoff teams and free-fall into the tank.   

[Erik]

I think #1 seed is the statistically best outcome for us. You lose 5% chance that the pick conveys but you also lose the 12.4%+ that the pick is 5th. I think the 5th pick is garbage in this draft and I'd rather want the kings 2019 in that case. I really only want 2nd or 3rd if I had to pick and first pick puts most percentage there.. Even porter looks bad. Back surgery this young is no joke.

[Birdman]

Only 3 players I want..bagley, Bamba, or Arizona center...

[Phantom255x]

I'd be perfectly fine if the Lakers finish with 3rd worst in the league.

There is a risk that having the 2nd worst record could equal #1 pick this summer.

But hopefully the Lakers finish 2nd or 3rd worst in the league and we get pick #2 (or #3..)

For me, I'd be ECSTATIC with either Bagley, Ayton or Bamba. Even Porter (if medically cleared) or Doncic would be great gets, though I figure between Doncic and Ayton, one of the two will be the #1 pick (which we don't get). Porter I might take if pick lands #5.

[jambr380]

I don't know if Porter will recover 100% (he is supposed to), but he was the #1 prospect going into the year - even after Bagley re-classified. If he is healthy, I don't think we should be all that bummed that we ended up having to settle for him.

And I think we should all consider ourselves extremely lucky if the pick happens to convey. This next stretch for the Lakers will be very telling.

[Phantom255x]

I don't know if Porter will recover 100% (he is supposed to), but he was the #1 prospect going into the year - even after Bagley re-classified. If he is healthy, I don't think we should be all that bummed that we ended up having to settle for him.

And I think we should all consider ourselves extremely lucky if the pick happens to convey. This next stretch for the Lakers will be very telling.

Yeah very true. Still a long season to go.

But it's at least encouraging that we're in this position, considering a few weeks ago the Lakers looked like a team that was winning a lot and would land a pick between 10-13 range (not even close to Top-5). Plus, the Lakers may trade a player or two in the coming months to open up cap space for the summer I believe (guys like Randle and/or Clarkson).

[SHAQATTACK]

I don't know if Porter will recover 100% (he is supposed to), but he was the #1 prospect going into the year - even after Bagley re-classified. If he is healthy, I don't think we should be all that bummed that we ended up having to settle for him.

And I think we should all consider ourselves extremely lucky if the pick happens to convey. This next stretch for the Lakers will be very telling.

Yeah very true. Still a long season to go.

But it's at least encouraging that we're in this position, considering a few weeks ago the Lakers looked like a team that was winning a lot and would land a pick between 10-13 range (not even close to Top-5). Plus, the Lakers may trade a player or two in the coming months to open up cap space for the summer I believe (guys like Randle and/or Clarkson).

great point ....if they dump those guys to make room for Lewhine   its gonna tank em.

[smokeablount]

Cautiously optimistic about the pick conveying, but still very skeptical. These Lakers can consistently hang with the top teams, it seems like.

It’s great to be 2nd worst now, but they just played a murderous December that has caused their record to plummet. While they still have an overall tough schedule, aren’t things going to balance out?

[smokeablount]

I’d expect the Lakers to finish no worse than 4th- behind ATL, one of SAC/PHX and one of CHI/ORL.

I could see them finishing 3rd worst if literally everything breaks right, including Ingram’s shooting hand, but it seems more likely that they’d finish 6th or 7th worst, than 2nd or 3rd worst.

[konkmv]

The issue  is that the Lakers pick will bee higher than the nets pick...  if lin and Russell were healthy nets would be even in playoff mode... nice job danny

[keevsnick]

As fun as December has been for us it's gonna be January that makes or breaks this pick. They play a slate of bottom dwelling teams coming up this monthh including Atlanta, Sac, Dal, Mem, Chi among others. If they stay down through January I will feel a lot better.

[sdceltsfan]

The Lakers do play a lot of bad teams in January. Half of their games are against bottom
10. It is their easiest stretch, along with 10
games in Feb, IMO, for the rest of the season. I think with their injuries and inconsistent play, a .500 projection for January is very generous. 7-8 wins, would put them at 18-19 by the end of January. Another .500 stretch in Feb would put them at 23-24 wins.

Then "Beware the ides of March" comes upon LA, where the time comes to settle their debts. Where every win starts to really matter for playoff contending teams. LA has only 4 games against the current bottom ten in that long month. I think they would be lucky to get 4-6 wins in that time. That would put them in the 27-30 win range.

Seven games in April. Only two against the bad teams. Another 2-3 wins and they are in the 29-33 win range. They would finish 9th worst with 33 wins based on the high end of the projection, and tied for 5th worst with 29 wins, or the low-end of that projection.

Again this is a generous win % to give them. I would say 29-30 is a more realistic high end, and 25-27 as a low end, which puts them right in the sweet spot for the pick to convey.

[nickagneta]

I think this Lakers twam is horrible. I can definitely see them at 25-57 and in the bottom three in the league.