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Los Angeles Lakers · The Los Angeles Lakers may not have been able to catch the necessary Western Conference foes to avoid the Play-In Tournament, but they did catch lightning in a bottle. One of the NBA’s hottest teams over the post-All-Star break stretch (17-9, sixth-best), the Lakers remain elite in both name value and game value. At their absolute best with the speed at its highest (No. 4 in pace), the Lakers have constructed the NBA’s second-most efficient offense through a willingness to live in the paint. Relatively healthy, even in a season filled with persistent dings and bruises, the Lakers enter the postseason festivities with the No. 7 seed, offering them an opportunity to put the rest of the Wild West on notice as an underdog. Anchored by the ageless 39-year-old LeBron James and his unstoppable go-to in Anthony Davis, the Lakers’ season has been defined by resilience and discovering the fountain of youth. Between the two, the 2023-24 offered one-of-a-kind memories such as: James’ 40,000th point, a record-setting 20th All-Star appearance, and never-before-seen box score lines on the way to a 47-win season. Paired with key contributions from the likes of D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, and Rui Hachimura, the Lakers’ hope is that last season’s deep run was merely a precursor. This Fandom 'Wild Card' Redemption can be crafted into a Los Angeles Lakers Moment after each round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs. · State of Mint