LeBron James Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Lakers face a battle to make the playoffs

By Adam Taylor | Last updated 2/26/24

The Los Angeles Lakers are currently ninth in the Western Conference. They haven't looked like the same team that made it to the Western Conference Finals last season.

According to Kendrick Perkins, who was speaking on Monday's episode of "First Take," the Lakers face a battle to qualify for the playoffs.

"As far as this season alone, the Lakers better be worried about making the players, far as making a run in the playoffs," Perkins said. "Matter of fact. The playoffs have started. ... Do I think Spencer Dinwiddie is going to get them over the top? Hell no. At the end of the day, what I'm watching right now is that they lack depth at the big position. ...You need depth at the big position to win any series in the Western Conference. ... Hell no, they're not making another run (this season.)"

"The Lakers better be worried about making the playoffs, let alone making a run in the playoffs."

@KendrickPerkins pic.twitter.com/M6iDuHTylb
— First Take (@FirstTake) February 26, 2024

During the summer, Rob Pelinka made multiple moves to add depth to the Lakers' rotation. Gabe Vincent and Christian Wood were two high-profile names to join the team. Yet, injuries and inconsistent rotations have hampered Darvin Ham's ability to create a consistent unit. LeBron James has often cut a frustrated figure when addressing the media during post-game news conferences.

The pressure to win a championship weighs heavy whenever you have two elite talents like LeBron and Anthony Davis. That pressure only intensifies when you're playing for the Lakers. They're one of the biggest market teams in the world. Certain expectations come with wearing that jersey.

Furthermore, LeBron's contract situation, where he holds a player option for next season, has also been a burden the roster has carried. He's in the final stages of his career. Adding another ring to his resume would be great for his legacy.

Ham's team is fighting an uphill battle. Success is expected. Anything less than a return to the Conference Finals will be seen as a failure. Yet, judging by what we've seen from the Lakers this season, that appears to be a tall task.

However, if we've learned one thing about LeBron during his career, it's that you can never count him out. It's going to be an interesting ride for the Purple and Gold once the playoffs begin. Assuming they make it past the play-in tournament, that is.

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