LeBron James offered up a fairly blunt verdict of the Los Angeles Lakers’ chances going into the final stretch of the season, admitting the team has its future in its own hands.
The Lakers welcomed James back from a groin injury this past week, but suffered a brutal home defeat to the 31-40 Chicago Bulls on Saturday night.
Los Angeles now sits in fourth place in the Western conference, and James is well aware that avoiding the Play-In is well within reach. The Lakers sit .5 games ahead of the Memphis Grizzilies and 2.5 games ahead of the Golden State Warriors, and a guaranteed playoff berth seems likely.
But speaking after Saturday’s defeat to the Bulls, which saw Luka Doncic continue his incredible run with a 34-point game, James said he and his teammates know their season is in their own hands.
“We got 12 games to position ourselves in the postseason. We pretty much can control our own destiny if we win ballgames and not have to be in the play-in.”
Head coach JJ Redick agreed with that sentiment, saying the Lakers will be viewing the final 12 games of the regular as a stretch within itself. “I think that’s a good way to look at it. Ground zero,” Redick said. “These next 12 games, you’ve got to re-find your way.
“It’s a perpetually flowing river that we’ve all of a sudden run into a beaver’s [dam] … and we got to get ready to get the water flowing again.”
James was returning from a groin injury in Saturday’s game, but worryingly admitted afterwards that he didn’t feel 100% just yet. Instead, he declared he would continue to take things day-by-day.
“I just take it day by day,” he said. “I hope it’s behind [me], but I don’t want to go too far in the future.”
