The Los Angeles Lakers are equally as likely to secure the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference as they are to end up in the Play-In Tournament. They trail the Houston Rockets by just 2.5 games with seven to be played, and lead the No. 7 Minnesota Timberwolves by that same margin.
While some will argue that Los Angeles can rest easy knowing it's in control of its own destiny, there's an equally as significant reason for nerves to be at an all-time high.
It's a truth that most would rather not confront at this stage of the season, as the pressure of ending on a high note is strong enough. The Lakers are just as human as the rest of us, however, and one player isn't afraid to acknowledge the situation at hand.
Per Jovan Buha of The Athletic, Dorian Finney-Smith held nothing back when he directly acknowledged that Los Angeles is keeping a close eye on the standings.
“Everybody is paying attention, I can’t lie,” Dorian Finney-Smith said, cutting straight to the truth. “Let’s be honest. Come on, man. Everybody be looking at the standings. We don’t want to be in the Play-In, so every game matters.”
The entire quote is refreshingly honest, but it's the last sentence that hits the hardest—especially when one considers the context of it.
Lakers are looking at the standings, hoping to avoid Play-In Tournament
It's an obvious enough statement for a player to make, as no team wants a path that's any more difficult than it needs to be. That's especially true for a team like the Lakers, which have played at a certifiably elite level over the past three months.
The harsh reality facing Los Angeles, however, is that the Play-In Tournament has become an all-too-familiar destination for the team since its inception.
The current model of the Play-In Tournament was first introduced in 2020-21. Since then, the Lakers have either gone through the Play-In Tournament or missed the playoffs outright in every season—a fate they'd like to avoid if possible in 2024-25.
While favorites could be clearly established in the past, the 2024-25 Western Conference standings are flush with high-level teams competing for limited spots.
Any three of the Lakers, Golden State Warriors, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, or LA Clippers could end up in the Play-In Tournament without a monumental collapse. Facing any one of those teams would prove challenging for Los Angeles, and that isn't the only hurdle they could encounter.
Another possibility if Los Angeles ends up in the Play-In Tournament: A win-or-go-home type of clash with former franchise player Anthony Davis and the Dallas Mavericks.
Thankfully, the Lakers are in control of their own destiny. They'll have a chance to create distance between themselves and the Warriors on Apr. 3, will play two games against their potential second-round matchup, the Oklahoma City Thunder, and will even encounter Dallas and Houston.
Rather than running from reality, Finney-Smith is openly acknowledging the stress that comes with playing in this position. Perhaps that's what Los Angeles needs to maintain perspective.