Heading into the 2014-15 NBA season, there are low expectations for the Los Angeles Lakers as they are not expected to make the playoffs for the second consecutive season. With the Dallas Mavericks needing 49 games just to clinch the eighth seed last season, there is little margin for error for the Lakers as seemingly every single Western Conference team has improved.
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Before Tuesday’s game against the Phoenix Suns, Byron Scott says the Lakers would make the playoffs if they were in the Eastern Conference according to Lakers Nation reporter Serena Winters:
Byron Scott: "I think if we [were] in the East, we'd feel real comfortable about making the playoffs but we're not we're in the West."
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) October 22, 2014
Although it will be an uphill battle, Scott says he’s seeing “real good signs” from training camp and the Lakers will continue working:
Scott continued:"We know we got an uphill battle but again like I said I'm seeing real good signs right now & we just keep working everyday"
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) October 22, 2014
Last season, the Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers would have been the only two teams in the Eastern Conference to make the Western Conference. In addition, the Phoenix Suns who failed to make the playoffs in the West, would have been tied for the third seed in the Eastern Conference.
With every single team in the Western Conference improving and already having strong team chemistry, it will be an uphill battle for the Lakers.
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