Los Angeles has won five of six, but the Lakers are currently 22-26 and three-and-a-half games outside of the final playoff spot in the highly competitive Western Conference. There are still 34 games left to play, but each and every one counts for the Lakers.
Of those games, 18 are against squads that would make the playoffs if the postseason started today. Needless to say, the Lakers are in for an uphill battle—one that can result in Howard staying with the team if it is won.
Look at it this way. When Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak pulled the trigger on the blockbuster trade that made Howard a Laker last August, the team's fans went into a frenzy. Not only did Kupchak bring them a fine playmaking point guard in Steve Nash, but he also landed a three-time Defensive Player of the Year while trading away the moody and oft-injured Andrew Bynum.
By conventional standards, the Lakers were the best team on paper and the favorites to win the 2013 NBA Finals.
But that's all a dream now. Los Angeles has fought injuries, a coaching change and frustration from all parties in a season that could become lost in the blink of an eye. Making the playoffs is the only way that the impending free agent, Howard, will be convinced to sign a new contract to remain with the team.
It doesn't help that Howard has already supposedly made up his mind about next season. Speaking to T.J. Simers of the Los Angeles Times in December, he just said "I know," when asked if he knew where he'd play next year. Thus, Los Angeles could already be at a disadvantage when it come...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
