The Lakers, who began the season a perfect 8-0, have gone 6-6 since, and now find themselves trailing the conference-leading San Antonio Spurs by two and a half games.
In the western conference, a four game losing streak can drop a team from the no. 1 seed to suddenly being out of the playoff picture, and a winning streak can do just the opposite, take the Utah Jazz for example.
However the Lakers will surely be fine. The two-time defending champions upcoming schedule is quite favorable and a winning streak isn't out of the question.
The Lakers ended a four game skid on Friday night by rolling the Sacramento Kings at the Staples Center. Los Angeles will host the Washington Wizards Tuesday night before playing what is technically a road game against their crosstown rivals, the Los Angeles Clippers Wednesday night capping off the back to back.
If all goes as planned for Kobe Bryant and company the lake show will be taking a three game winning streak into Chicago on Friday night.
But if the Lakers' recent struggles tell us anything it's that they are never a lock, regardless of how pitiful the competition seems.
The depleted Houston Rockets were responsible for Los Angeles latest loss and before that it was the Memphis Grizzlies.
Both teams are under .500 and currently outside of the western conference playoff picture.
Also the Lakers home court advantage has worn off. Though they have only lost twice at Staples this year (Phoenix & Indiana), Los Angeles has been notoriously strong at home during past regular seasons and even more so in recent postseasons.
While John Wall and Blake Griffin should each pose a significant threat to the Lakers in their next two games, they are still the Wizards and Clippers, a combined 10-28 this season, and that ...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
