LA Sports Hub
Fansided

Lakers Rumors: Seven things to expect during the 2017-18 season

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 23: Magic Johnson, president of basketball operations of the Los Angeles Lakers, general manager Rob Pelinka and draft pick Lonzo Ball talk to the media during a press conference on June 23, 2017 at the team training faculity in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 23: Magic Johnson, president of basketball operations of the Los Angeles Lakers, general manager Rob Pelinka and draft pick Lonzo Ball talk to the media during a press conference on June 23, 2017 at the team training faculity in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
8 of 8
Next
LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 16: (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) – Lakers Rumors
LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 16: (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) – Lakers Rumors /

Los Angeles will battle for the eighth seed, but will ultimately miss the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season

Again, sorry to bring negativity to those hoping that the Lakers will make a playoff push, but it just won’t happen. Los Angeles will undoubtedly make an immense improvement, I do see that in the cards, but making the playoffs in the stacked Western Conference is a stretch.

There are essentially five locks already for the playoffs. The Warriors, Rockets, Thunder, Spurs and Timberwolves will all undoubtedly make it. Then you have the Memphis Grizzlies who are almost certain to make it, along with the Clippers and Pelicans that will contend for the seventh and eighth seed.

More from Lakers Rumors

All eight of these teams are better than the Lakers, that is without question. As much as Laker fans love to hate on the Clippers, they still have DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin among a solid young core, I highly doubt they will miss the playoffs if healthy.

That leaves Los Angeles to battle for the eighth seed with the Pelicans, Nuggets and Trail Blazers – to name a few. The Kings and Suns are young and could surprise people and the Mavericks and Jazz very well could be in contention as well.

The fact of the matter is that the Western Conference is just way too stacked for the Lakers to be that successful. With all of this talent, the team will likely finish in the 33-38 wins mark. If LA was in the east then the Lakers would likely have no problems making the playoffs.

Next: Three different super teams the Lakers can construct

Overall, there is a lot of speculation and hype for the upcoming Lakers season. If all of the latest Lakers rumors mean anything, we should expect these seven things in 2017-18.

Home/Lakers Rumors