Lakers Facing Uphill Battle to Secure Playoff Spot in Stacked West

As the 2025-26 NBA season approaches, the Los Angeles Lakers find themselves in a precarious position. According to a recent poll of ESPN experts, the Lakers are barely projected to make it out of the play-in tournament, with the experts slotting them as the sixth seed in the Western Conference.

The Lakers' transition into the Luka Doncic era has been a major focus of attention. Doncic, the young superstar acquired in a stunning trade from the Dallas Mavericks, will now team up with all-time leading scorer LeBron James for a full season. The two players will need to develop a strong on-court chemistry to lead the Lakers to success.

Despite making key roster additions, such as the acquisition of Deandre Ayton and the signing of Marcus Smart, the Lakers still face an uphill battle in the stacked Western Conference. The top of the conference is loaded with talent, and even the bottom teams have shown significant improvement.

The Lakers' playoff hopes will largely depend on their ability to stay healthy and play better defense on the perimeter. If they can secure home-court advantage, they believe they have a chance to challenge the Oklahoma City Thunder for the Western Conference crown. However, with LeBron James nearing the end of his illustrious career, the Lakers know that this season represents their last, best chance to win a championship.