As Lakers Keep Scuffling, the Bay vs. LA Could Go Down

LeBron James thinks the play-in for the NBA playoffs is a bad idea. Which is odd, because in March 2020, James thought having the 7-11 seeds duke it out late in the regular season was a good idea.

So why the sudden change of heart?

Well, his Lakers currently find themselves at No. 5 in the Western Conference, with just a game separating them from the No. 7 seed Portland Trailblazers. Los Angeles went 7-13 in the 17-time All Star’s 20-game absence because of an ankle injury, and lost to Sacramento and Toronto in two contests with James before a reaggravation of his ankle has him sidelined for at least the next pair of games.

And if the Lakers were to fall to seventh in the West, they could have a one-game playoff for the seventh seed with the Warriors and Stephen Curry – who sit tied at the eighth seed with the Memphis Grizzlies after Tuesday’s loss to the Pelicans. If they were to lose to Golden State, the defending champions would face an elimination game against the winner of the nine and 10 seed game.

Whether or not the Warriors fall out of the eighth seed to the nine or 10, the Lakers are in danger of limping into a play-in and eventually running into Curry and Golden State, providing fans with another rendition of MVP-level Curry and James in the teams’ first postseason matchup since 1991.

In fairness to Los Angeles, James’ ailments coincided with much of Anthony Davis’ 30-game absence because of an achilles injury, and Davis has averaged over 20 points a game since his return while also providing a game-sealing block Monday in a win against Denver.

And no matter how short a play-in matchup would be, it will be exciting seeing April’s Western Conference Player of the Month in Curry, along with an increasingly impressive Andrew Wiggins and well-versed postseason stalwart Draymond Green, take on Davis, James and the rest of Frank Vogel’s supporting cast as it tries to mesh.

30 years removed from their last playoff showdown, neither team has really been competitive at the same time as the other. From the Shaq-Kobe era to Bryant’s last two championships at the end of the 2010s, the Warriors were never serious contenders, and while they did have a rivalry with the Clippers, the “Beat LA” animus was never as strong. Golden State then rose up as a dynasty, but the Lakers floundered at the end of Bryant’s career, and injuries contributed to the pair of squads not facing off in recent vintage.

On top of a regional rivalry which always provides intensity, the matchup of Curry and James remains extra special after their four Finals showdowns. Curry has also had a season that started with an unfairly questioned legacy and has evolved into an MVP-level campaign, even without Klay Thompson.

James won the Western Conference for the first time last season, but in the context of the unique Bubble circumstances and the absence of a healthy Curry, he also could have something to prove.

Time will soon tell whether or not this play-in format will yield a Bay vs. LA one-gamer in its inaugural season. But the Lakers certainly don’t look to be out of the woods, and a few three-time NBA champions could be waiting for the 2020 champions come May 18-21.