5 Keys to Watch as Lakers Make Playoff Push in Season’s 2nd Half

After an impressive offseason which landed All-Stars Dwight Howard and Steve Nash in Los Angeles, many predicted that this Lakers squad would be poised and ready to make a run at this year's NBA title. 

But nobody could have foreseen this.  

Approaching the midway point of the season, the Los Angeles Lakers (17-23) are six games under .500 and 11th place in the Western Conference, leaving them on the brink of missing the playoffs and even worse, the second-best team in Los Angeles.  

Is there enough time for these Los Angeles Lakers to find themselves and get into the playoffs?  Here are five keys that could turn their season around. 

Begin Slideshow

...

About the Author