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Los Angeles Lakers: Three realistic goals for 2018-2019

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 05: Head coach Luke Walton talks with Brandon Ingram #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half of a game against the Charlotte Hornets at Staples Center on January 5, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 05: Head coach Luke Walton talks with Brandon Ingram #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half of a game against the Charlotte Hornets at Staples Center on January 5, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for NYFW: The Shows) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for NYFW: The Shows) – Los Angeles Lakers /

3. Reach the Western Conference Finals

The Western Conference is going to be very tough this season so slapping a wins goal on the Los Angeles Lakers really seemed meaningless. The difference between being the seventh and second seed in the playoffs is not going to be huge this season and the real importance is what the team does in the playoffs.

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There is so much talent in the Western Conference and it is so deep that the second place team could end up with around 50 wins.

Outside of the Houston Rockets and the Golden State Warriors last season, no Western Conference team eclipsed the 50-win mark and the third-seeded Portland Trail Blazers and eighth-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves were separated by just two games.

That is going to be the case of the West again this year, asking for the Lakers to finish second in the Western Conference in the regular season really is pointless as there will not be much fluctuation.

Instead, Lakers fans should be waiting until the playoffs to get a true evaluation of how the Lakers stack up against the elite teams in the league and to judge how the Lakers might do with another star the following year as well.

Quite frankly, the bar should be set on the Western Conference Finals and the Lakers should shoot for no less. Every team is so evenly matched in the West, aside from the Warriors, that this is easily obtainable for the Lakers as long as they do not run into the Warriors in an earlier round.

Asking the Los Angeles Lakers to dethrone the Warriors in year one is a bit unfair. However, getting the experience of playing the best team in basketball in a playoff series is huge for LA.

Next. Grading every move of Magic Johnson's tenure. dark

Plus, you never know, all it takes is a couple of banged up Warriors and the Lakers could sneak into the NBA Finals.

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