LeBron James is ready to put it all on the table to close out this season and make sure his Los Angeles Lakers make it to the playoffs.
"It’s 23 of the most important games of my career for a regular season," James said prior to the All-Star Game on Sunday. “I’m going to figure out ways to make sure I’m available and on the floor for every single one of these 23 games."
The Lakers are currently 27-32 and sit 13th in the Western Conference. However, the race is tight and they're only two games out of the 10th seed and a play-in berth and three and a half games out of the 6th seed and an automatic playoff spot.
Despite having missed 14 games this season, James is in the midst of one of his most productive campaigns to date, averaging 30.0 points, 8.4 rebounds and 7.3 assists.
He also notably broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's longstanding scoring record, so for him to make the playoffs and potentially make a solid run at his fifth title would only add on to this season's historical merit.
James, in his time with the Lakers, has had to become used to something he hasn't experienced since the start of his career: missing the playoffs. Now in his fifth year in Los Angeles, he's missed the big dance twice, most recently last season.
Now, sitting outside of the playoff picture looking in, he's at risk of missing the postseason in back-to-back years, which he hasn't done since his sophomore season in the league in 2004-05.
"Not being part of the postseason for two years straight, that's not in my DNA," said James on Sunday.
If he wishes to make another run, he'll have to overcome the NBA's sixth-hardest remaining strength of schedule according to tankathon. Right out of the All-Star break, he'll face off against the Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks and Memphis Grizzlies.
To get to the 10th seed, the Lakers will have to pass the Portland Trail Blazers, Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder. Some decisive matchups are on the horizon, with two more contests against both the Jazz and the Thunder in the final 23 games.
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