- Defending NBA champions could face play-in tournament
- Since Lebron James’s injury, LA have fallen from No 2 to No 7
- Lakers are 28-15 with James in uniform and 9-15 without him
The Los Angeles Lakers won’t have home-court advantage in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. They need help if they’re going to escape the play-in tournament. Worse yet, their invitation to the postseason isn’t even guaranteed.
The defending NBA champions might be in trouble.
Related: Conservatives fear LeBron’s influence, not his imaginary calls to violence
Related: The world’s greatest sports stars shot by Walter Iooss Jr – in pictures