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SALT LAKE CITY — The Los Angeles Lakers are 27-32 and in thirteenth place within the Western Convention with simply seven weeks left within the common season. However they’re simply two video games out of the play-in race, which might give the Lakers an opportunity to make the playoffs.
“The 23 most vital regular-season video games of my profession,” LeBron James mentioned Sunday afternoon earlier than All-Star Sport tipped off.
That’s fairly a press release from the 20-year veteran and the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.
“I wish to make a push to make the playoffs,” James mentioned. “I don’t wish to see myself not being concerned within the playoffs for 2 years straight. It’s not a part of my DNA sitting up right here speaking about information and issues of that nature. That’s all cool, however I’m extra captivated with making an attempt to make the postseason. That’s simply who I’m.”
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James has not missed the postseason for 2 consecutive years since his first and second seasons within the league in 2003-04 and 2004-05. A sore left ankle sidelined James for 3 of the 4 video games earlier than the All-Star break and he has restricted enjoying time with new teammates acquired by way of commerce previously month.
Forward of the Feb. 9 commerce deadline, the Lakers acquired Rui Hachimura from Washington, D’Angelo Russell from Minnesota and Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt from Utah.
“I hope I can determine a strategy to simply be certain I am out there for each single night time for these 23 video games, to provide us an opportunity, give our group probability to have the ability to compete each night time and provides us an opportunity to win each night time,” James mentioned.
The Lakers resume their season towards Golden State on Thursday and have the Twenty fifth-easiest remaining schedule, based on tankathon.com.
“I’ve at all times been assured in any membership I’ve been on, as soon as we received to the playoffs that we are able to compete with anybody,” James mentioned.
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