The Los Angeles Lakers might make the playoffs, but the road to the postseason is going to be very, very rocky.
On Wednesday night, they were taken down by the Sacramento Kings, a team they might face in the playoffs if they make it that far.
Speaking on “First Take,” Brian Windhorst listed the reasons that he “can’t take this team seriously.”
He said that LA has the second-worst defense in the league over the last 15 games, behind only the tanking Utah Jazz.
He also painted a clear picture: right now, the Lakers are looking to beat the Golden State Warriors in the first Play-In game, hoping to somehow defeat the Kings in the second game, and then likely take on the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs.
Windhorst doesn’t see how any of that is going to play out well for LA.
“I can’t take this team seriously.”
—@WindhorstESPN on the Lakers 🫣 pic.twitter.com/V64aWjKVVd
— First Take (@FirstTake) March 14, 2024
After listening to Windhorst’s take, it is easy to understand why the Lakers might not get far in the playoffs.
At this point last season, they were surging and ultimately made their way to the Western Conference Finals.
But the Lakers in 2022-23 had a much better defense than today and that is making a huge difference.
They cannot slow down a number of teams, least of all the Kings and Nuggets.
That is why any run in the postseason might be very short-lived this year.
The Lakers are still able to win games during the regular season and have accumulated a few important and even surprising victories lately.
But do they have what it takes to conquer other squads in the postseason?
They did last year but something is missing from LA this season: a strong defense.
NEXT:
Keyshawn Johnson Names Biggest Factor In Lakers’ Loss To Kings