The Los Angeles Lakers have not been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, but it would take a miracle for LeBron James and co. to finish in the top eight in the Western Conference at this point. Following Monday night's crucial loss to the seventh seeded Los Angeles Clippers, the Lakers fell 5.5 games back of the eighth seeded San Antonio Spurs.
As a result, LAL's chances of making the post-season have reportedly dipped below .1%, according to Basketball Reference. That's worse than the New Orleans Pelicans, who still have a 1.2% shot at reaching the postseason.
While there are still 18 games remaining in the regular season, the Lakers (30-34) face the seventh-toughest remaining schedule, according to Tankathon (H/T Sporting News). That includes Tuesday night's quick turn around against the Denver Nuggets.
Meanwhile, the Clippers have the 17th toughest remaining schedule, and the Spurs' final 17 games are ranked 24th toughest.
(Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images)
Furthermore, the Lakers have already lost the head-to-head tiebreaker against the Spurs, and they've dropped two of three to the Clippers thus far.
Even if the Lakers defeat the Clippers on April 5 to tie their season series at 2-2, the Clips are 11-3 in the Pacific Division, which is several games better than the Lakers' 7-6 divisional record. Of note, NBA tiebreakers are first determined by head-to-head records, then by division records.