“Wherever we got to go”: LeBron James sounds uber-confident despite seeding conundrum in playoffs

LeBron James remains unfazed by the current Western Conference playoff standings, even with the Lakers potentially ending up with a lower seed once again. Despite their record of 11 games above. 500, they currently sit in ninth place and are expected to secure either the seventh or eighth seed through the play-in tournament.

Despite the possibility of facing favored contenders like the Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, and OKC Thunder as the road team in the first round, the Lakers remain unfazed by this challenge, particularly James.

“Wherever we fall is where we fall and wherever we got to go, if we have to go on the road, that’s fine. That’s fine,”James said about the Lakers’ playoffs hopes (3:23).

The current situation requires the Lakers to win two consecutive knockout games, one at home and one on the road, in order to secure a spot in the playoffs. They are expected to enter the postseason as the eighth seed and will most likely face the top-ranked Timberwolves in the first round.

The competition for the top spot is currently between three teams: the Denver Nuggets and OKC Thunder, both of whom have a strong chance of clinching the #1 seed.

LeBron James and the Lakers Dominate in the Playoffs

Despite flirting with the possibility of dropping into the lottery as the 10th seed a few weeks ago, LeBron James and the Lakers have turned things around and are now firing on all cylinders. Their recent form has seen them win eight of their last 10 games and eight of their past nine, including a successful 5-1 road stretch.

The Lakers have now achieved a record of 44-33 this season, putting them within one game of securing the seventh or eighth seed and just two games behind the sixth seed. As there are only six games remaining, it is crucial for the Lakers to continue their winning streak while also relying on the teams above them to lose a few games in order for them to move up in the standings.

Securing sixth place guarantees a spot in the playoffs for the Lakers. However, if they end up in seventh or eighth place, they will still have a chance to make it to the playoffs through the play-in tournament. This scenario has occurred twice in 2021 and 2023 for the Lakers, and they have emerged victorious both times, ultimately securing the seventh seed.

Despite being seeded seventh, LeBron James and his team made it to the conference finals last year, showing their ability to thrive even in less favorable situations. Both James and Anthony Davis excel in playoff basketball, with their ability to adapt to slower-paced games and handle physical play setting them apart from other players in the league.