The final fortnight of the season is still fraught with tension for the Purple and Gold, but they control their own destiny from here on out.
Even assuming they do maintain their current position, things don't get any easier once the postseason gets rolling. The Lakers are looking at a first round showdown with either the San Antonio Spurs or Oklahoma City Thunder. Against those two powerhouses L.A. is just 1-5 this season, with one probably meaningless matchup against the Spurs remaining on the docket.
Irrespective of how bleak the forecast looks, the Lakers do have some hope in the second season.
For one, Kobe Bryant continues to be confident that L.A. will make noise come playoff time. There's a guy any team could wade into battle with.
Here are three more hidden advantages the Lakers have in the playoffs.
1. Rest
No team benefits more from the postseason schedule than the Lakers. Old guys need their rest—even ones with German-engineered knees.
Six of L.A.'s nine rotation players are 32 years of age or older and seven of them have played at least nine seasons in the NBA. There's a lot of wear and tear on these bodies.
Then there are the injury issues. Steve Nash is out with an injury. So is Metta World Peace. Pau Gasol recently returned from injury. Bryant is banged up. And of course Dwight Howard is still dealing with his season-long back and shoulder ailments.
With games more spread out there will be less action missed by those who are out of the lineup, while those who are nursing smaller nicks will get ample rest and not have to deal with the back-to-back and four-in-five-night situations that take their toll over the course of a season.
