Los Angeles Lakers’ Preferred 2024 NBA Playoffs Scenario

The Los Angeles Lakers are 38-32 and sit ninth in the Western Conference.

At the moment, all signs point to them needing to win a pair of play-in games just to face off against one of the top teams in the NBA in the first round of the postseason.

That being said, L.A. still faces a number of possible scenarios ahead. Some are more advantageous to the team than others.

The best case scenario for the Lakers would involve them facing off against the teams they have the best shot at beating, obviously.

Currently, as the No. 9 seed, Los Angeles would play against the Golden State Warriors in a No. 9 vs No. 10 match-up.

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In addition to having knocked the Warriors out of the playoffs last year, what the Lakers would have going for them here is the fact that Golden State has been a discombobulated mess of an organization all season. Yes, Stephen Curry will always be dangerous – but this Warriors bunch is 19-23 in conference play this season.

After beating Golden State, the Lakers would then face off against the loser of the No. 8 vs. No. 9 matchup. Currently, that would be the loser of the Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings.

Because the Kings have consistently owned L.A., and due to Domantas Sabonis being Anthony Davis’ daddy whenever they face off, Phoenix would be the better bet for the Lakers here.

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Yes, they got blown out by 20 earlier this season to this very same Suns squad, but there is a better-than-decent chance one of the Big Three will get hurt at some point between now and year’s end.

With a win against Phoenix, Los Angeles would then go on to play the Oklahoma City Thunder. And while playing the top seed in the West is never an ideal scenario, it is certainly better than facing off against the Denver Nuggets again.

Will the stars align for the Lakers so that they can make another deep playoff run in 2024? Time will tell.

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Charles Kruger

Charles Kruger has been credentialed to cover two Super Bowls, four NBA Finals, and one World Series. A 20-year veteran in the sports world, he has sources spanning the NBA, MLB, NFL, UFC and NASCAR. Currently residing in Los Angeles, Calif., he is Game 7’s go-to source for rumors surrounding the Lakers, Clippers and Dodgers.