Five-time NBA champion Magic Johnson believes that the Los Angeles Lakers should be aiming for the seventh seed in the Western Conference standings, rather than intentionally losing to secure a potentially easier matchup in the NBA Play-In tournament. Despite the Lakers’ struggles against the reigning champion Denver Nuggets in last year’s Western Conference Finals, Johnson emphasized the importance of facing tough competition in order to become the best. The Lakers finished the regular season ranked eighth in the Western Conference and traveled to New Orleans for a Play-In matchup with the seventh-seeded Pelicans, with a potential first-round matchup against the Nuggets on the line. However, a loss would open the door for a Lakers-Thunder first-round matchup, with the Lakers having to defeat the winner of the play-in game between the Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors.
Johnson dismissed the notion that the Lakers should strategically lose in order to face potentially weaker opponents in the Play-In tournament, emphasizing the importance of competitiveness and the desire to face and defeat the best teams. He highlighted that despite the Lakers’ struggles against the Nuggets in previous matchups, the games were close and showed potential for the Lakers to compete. The Lakers had a tough time against Denver in the 2023-24 regular season as well, losing all three games against the Nuggets. Conversely, the Lakers had success against the Thunder, winning three out of four games against them this season. ESPN’s Mike Greenberg suggested resting some star players against the Pelicans to aim for the eighth seed, rather than facing the Nuggets in the first round.
LeBron James, the Lakers’ star player, hinted at the possibility of his NBA days nearing an end after dropping 40 points on the Brooklyn Nets. Despite concerns from some Lakers fans about facing the team that eliminated them in the Western Conference Finals last year, Johnson reiterated the importance of facing tough competition in order to improve and succeed. The Lakers’ postseason prospects depend on the outcome of the Play-In tournament, with a win against the Pelicans securing them the seventh seed and a matchup against the Nuggets in the first round. However, a loss would open up the possibility of facing the Thunder in the first round, provided they defeat the winner of the other Play-In game between the Kings and Warriors.
The Lakers finished the regular season with the eighth seed in the Western Conference, setting up a Play-In matchup with the Pelicans for a chance to secure a higher seed and potentially face challenging opponents like the Nuggets. Johnson’s dismissal of the idea of intentionally losing in order to secure what may seem like an easier path through the playoffs emphasizes the importance of competition and striving to defeat the best teams. Despite facing difficulties against the Nuggets in previous matchups, Johnson believes that the Lakers have the potential to compete and ultimately succeed in the postseason. The team’s performance in the Play-In tournament will determine their seed and their subsequent matchups in the playoffs, with James hinting at the possibility of his NBA career coming to an end.
