Los Angeles Lakers Clinch Playoff Berth
With a 112-108 win against the Dallas Mavericks on Friday, the Lakers clinched a coveted playoff spot in the highly competitive Western Conference. (Also, Friday's game was Pau Gasol's first game back since tweaking his ankle a couple weeks back.) Only two West teams - the Lakers and New Orleans Hornets - have clinched playoff berths, even with only a couple of weeks left in the regular season. Currently the Hornets lead the Lakers and Spurs by a game and a half, but their position on the top is by no means secure. Even the San Antonio Spurs, who are tied for second with the Lakers, aren't mathematically guaranteed a playoff spot (although they'd have to seriously implode not to notch one of the eight spots).
The Western Conference playoff race has been boiled down to nine teams, with the Denver Nuggets and Golden State Warriors battling it out for the 8 spot. But no one (save the Lakers and Hornets) is safe. Only six games separate the #2 spot and the #8 spot. As this season winds down we could have nine 50+ win teams in the Western Conference. Amazing.
The Lakers remaining schedule is pretty easy. They are on the road for the next two games against the Kings, Blazers, and then "on the road" again against the Clippers. They then finish the regular season with three home games: one against the red hot Hornets, one against the Spurs (on ABC), and the season finale against the Kings. Plenty of time to get Gasol worked back into the rotation. And with any luck the young Mr. Bynum will make a cameo or two.