Last season, the Washington Wizards looked to be out of the playoff picture with Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal at the helm. Then Westbrook caught fire and ignited a big run that carried the Wizards into the playoffs in the Eastern Conference.
This season, the Los Angeles Lakers (24-27) are also in a complex situation. The team is currently at the back end of the play-in tournament if the season ended today with LeBron James and Anthony Davis dealing with nagging injuries.
But if the Lakers make the playoffs this year, Westbrook, the team’s blockbuster addition this past summer, said the record difference will not matter.
“When you get to the playoffs, it’s 0-0. That’s just how I feel. I feel that when you get to the playoffs, it doesn’t really matter. Whatever their record is, it doesn’t really matter,” Westbrook said during his media session after Tuesday’s practice. “You get in the playoffs, it’s 0-0 and the best team wins at that particular time of the year. If you’re playing better than the 8 seed or 1 seed, 2 seed, whatever that may be, it don’t really matter.”
Westbrook is correct. Come playoff time, opponents don’t focus on records. It’s about that specific matchup and creating schemes to attack the opponent’s weaknesses.
But before the Lakers think about that, they have to get healthy and build momentum with a winning streak that secures them a playoff seed.
