USA TODAY
In one moment, Los Angeles Lakers forward Jared Dudley conceded how vulnerable this team could be entering the NBA playoffs. Less than a year after winning an NBA championship, the Lakers will try to become the first seventh seed or lower in league history to win a league title.
“It will be the hardest challenge any team has ever had in NBA history,” Dudley said.
In another moment, Dudley contended the team feels secure with how it will navigate
the journey. It starts with the Lakers (42-30) hosting the eighth-seeded Golden State Warriors (39-33) in a play-in game on Wednesday at Staples Center. If the Lakers win that game
There s just one day of regular-season basketball left on the NBA schedule.
That used to mean teams at the bottom of the standings would battle fiercely for the No. 8 and final spot in the Eastern and Western Conferences, respectively, for the right to compete in the playoffs.
Now, though, with the condensed 72-game season and the new play-in tournament format, teams that finish ranked No. 7 through No. 10 will contend for the final two spots in the postseason for each conference.
NBA @NBA
3. DAYS. AWAY.
The #StateFarmPlayIn Tournament and #NBAPlayoffs picture as of today.
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