Lakers & Warriors Playoff Push, The 2024 NBA playoff race has become a high-stakes battle for survival for two of basketball’s most iconic franchises. As the regular season enters its final stretch, the Los Angeles Lakers (9th seed) and Golden State Warriors (10th seed) find themselves in an unfamiliar position – fighting for their lives in the Play-In Tournament rather than cruising to top seeds.
This 1,500+ word exclusive analysis breaks down:
✔ The shocking roster flaws haunting both teams
✔ LeBron vs. Curry: One last playoff duel?
✔ Why the new CBA rules are crushing their trade options
✔ The young West teams that pushed them out (Thunder, Wolves)
✔ Realistic paths to avoiding playoff disaster
Plus, we reveal the one statistical trend that predicts which team has a better chance to advance.
State of the Crisis: Lakers & Warriors By The Numbers
Lakers’ Red Flags:
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24th in 3PM/game (10.8) – Worst among playoff contenders
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29th in fast break points (9.1/game) – LeBron’s slowest team ever
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4-11 vs. top 5 West teams
Warriors’ Warning Signs:
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26th in rebounding (42.3/game) – No size after Looney decline
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28th in clutch FG% (41.2%) – Curry can’t do it alone
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0-5 in OT games – Worst in NBA
Lakers & Warriors Playoff Push, According to NBA NewsZ, both teams share one fatal flaw: They were built for the 2018 NBA, not 2024.
“The league evolved past their models. You can’t win today with non-shooting bigs (Lakers) or tiny lineups (Warriors).” – ESPN’s Zach Lowe
The Roster Construction Disasters
Lakers’ Mismanagement:
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$40M tied up in non-spacers (Vincent, Vanderbilt, Hayes)
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No reliable POA defender since Caruso trade
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AD at center experiment failing (108.8 DRTG when he plays the 5)
Warriors’ Lost Opportunities:
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Kuminga/Moody development stalled by “two timelines”
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$128M luxury tax bill for .500 team
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No size to counter Jokic/AD/Sabonis
Last Chance: Realistic Playoff Paths
Lakers’ Best Hope:
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AD stays healthy (played 65+ games first time since 2018)
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Reaves becomes consistent 20 PPG scorer
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Avoid Suns/Nuggets in first round
Warriors’ Only Shot:
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Draymond returns to DPOY form
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Klay accepts 6th man role
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Wiggins rediscovers 2022 playoffs version
The One Stat That Predicts Their Fate
Clutch Net Rating (Last 5 Minutes, +/- 5 Pts):
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Lakers: +3.1 (12th in NBA)
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Warriors: -6.8 (28th in NBA)
Lakers & Warriors Playoff Push, This suggests LA is built better for playoff tight games, while Golden State collapses late.
Final Verdict: Who Survives?
✅ Lakers have 55% chance to escape Play-In
❌ Warriors face 70% odds of missing playoffs entirely
For more urgent NBA analysis, visit NBA NewsZ – your home for unfiltered basketball truth.
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