The Lakers sit at 31-31 and have needed time to get healthy, gel and get used to the new coach’s game plan. Kobe is finally taking control to distribute the ball and not have it be him and four guys watching. The Lakers are going to play well and just three games back of the 7th and 8th spot in the West which is Houston and Utah and four behind Golden State for 6th. If they make the playoffs in the 7th or 8th spot they get rewarded with a playoff series with San Antonio or Oklahoma City, but if they can sneak up to the 6th spot they would eliminate travel and play their building mate LA Clippers. At the Staples Center they are playing well with a 20-11 record on the season. The Lakers against the Spurs and Thunder their record is 1-5 so they want to avoid them, however they are 0-3 against the Clippers so unless they stay hot which has won them 7-3in their last 10 games. If they keep up this pace they would be a tough out for any of those three teams all of whom would want no part of them in the first round. The second half of the season has gone much better than the first where they had multiply losing streaks now they are making those winning streaks. Between a healthy Nash and Dwight to team up with Kobe’s killer instinct especially in the playoffs look for the Lakers to win 12-15 in their last 20 games to surge their way into the playoffs as the 7th seed which will line them up with the Thunder in the first round and give the defending Western conference champs a run for their money in defending their title. The main push and motivation for the Lakers is to honor the memory of their late owner Dr. Buss at least give them a shot a title similar to the way Baltimore Ravens did for Art Model. Book it the Lakers will make the playoffs this year.