When considering the Lakers, let’s not only look at this season, but also at the short term and long term future.
Let’s also consider a strategy they could employ that could assure they would have a very short vacation (no more than one or two years) from the postseason and ascend back into contender status by the 2015-16 season.
The Present
First, let’s acknowledge a certain reality. The Lakers have no chance at a title this year. None. Zilch. Nada. Zip. Zero. It’s not going to happen.
Let’s look at their best-case scenario and assume Kobe Bryant comes back in MVP form.
Right now, they are just outside of the playoff picture. If Bryant comes back at an elite level, they might work their way into a seventh or eighth seed.
However, they can’t do any better. The West is just loaded this year. The Lakers, even with Bryant, have less talent than the San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder, Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Golden State Warriors, and Houston Rockets. The best they can hope for is beating out the Portland Trail Blazers (who may belong in the first group if they keep playing like they've started), Dallas Mavericks and Minnesota Timberwolves for seventh.
In other words, their postseason shots are pretty slim.
According to the simple rating system (SRS) at Basketball-Reference, a formula based on margin of victory and strength of schedule, the Lakers are currently the 12th best team in the West. Obviously, that’s without Bryant, and that has an impact. Also, many pieces changed, and that also has an impact. The Lakers can move up those rankings.
So, let’s assume things get better. Bryant is still going ...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
