Coach Frank Vogel thinks that the Los Angeles Lakers can go on a deep playoff run. But judging by recent comments, he knows it’s a long shot.
Speaking on Wednesday, Vogel laid out what will need to happen for the Lakers to compete for a title. It’s a multi-step process.
Frank Vogel on this final stretch of the season and how things could end up for the Lakers: "If [Anthony Davis] is able to come back and we catch the right matchup or catch a team at the right time and if we’re able to catch fire at the right time, we’re going to have a chance"
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) March 2, 2022
Really, this is what Vogel has to say. Make no mistake, we admire the honesty of former Denver Nuggets coach Doug Moe, who (per Gordon Edes, then of the Los Angeles Times) before a 1987 playoff series with a powerhouse Lakers squad, correctly said that “they can’t be beaten, especially by us.” As much as we appreciate that honesty, though, that’s not common.
But given the number of “ifs” in his scenario, Vogel’s words aren’t exactly optimistic. Several NBA fans were all too quick to point that out.
Hey that's only three things. Easy-peasy. https://t.co/5LNkRtKYXL
— Yaya Dubin (@JADubin5) March 2, 2022
https://t.co/7TIjPWBuiQ pic.twitter.com/KdQzNX01mJ
— Adam Wells (@adamwells1985) March 2, 2022
https://t.co/HRFxL8iznG pic.twitter.com/L8B7MGFSUA
— Jeff Stephens (@jffstphns3) March 2, 2022
look it's clear this team needs shooting, and i know a guy living in LA that spends a lot of time around this team with a fresh pair of 11's ready to lace up and get to work. pic.twitter.com/ej5c1maG5N
— patrick (@muldowney) March 2, 2022
https://twitter.com/solajd/status/1499167226708086789
Others compared Vogel’s words to their own hypothetical dreams coming true.
https://twitter.com/projectbaby215/status/1499165121733697545
Similar to the the chain of events needed for me and Salma Hayek to get married https://t.co/ifEbB2SndV
— Jared Wade (@Jared_Wade) March 2, 2022
Heading into Wednesday’s action, the Lakers are at 27-34 and occupy the No. 9 seed in the Western Conference. They are 4.5 games behind the current No. 8 seed, the Los Angeles Clippers. So, the chances of moving up are slim.
Los Angeles is two games ahead of the New Orleans Pelicans and Portland Trail Blazers, who are tied for the final play-in spot. Los Angeles. And while the Blazers appear to be tanking, they also handed an embarrassing loss to the Lakers when the two teams last met.
The Lakers have struggled mightily over the last two months. Los Angeles has not won consecutive games since a four-game winning streak from Dec. 31 through Jan. 7. The Lakers are 6-15 overall in that stretch, have dropped three straight games and six of their last seven.
Theoretically, Vogel is right. If everything breaks right, Los Angeles has a chance. That’s also true for every other team in the NBA, as nobody has been officially eliminated yet. But before the Lakers can think about playoff matchups and a long postseason run, they have to fix their current problems. Otherwise, even a play-in game spot may elude Los Angeles.
