Los Angeles Lakers: playoff chances and predictions

Q: Will the Los Angeles Lakers make the playoffs?

Our model gives them est. 37% as of Oct 9 (a top-6 seed or a spot through the play-in), with a title chance of est. <1%. It's a projection from the data and it changes as the season goes.

Q: When do the Lakers play next?

Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Lakers, Wed, Oct 21. Our pick posts before tip-off (preseason: picks start oct 20).

Every pick is stored before tip-off and graded after the final, so you can check how we've done on Lakers games. How accurate →

Will the Los Angeles Lakers make the playoffs? Our model says est. 37% as of Oct 9, with a title chance of est. <1%.

Making the playoffs = a top-6 seed in the West or a spot through the play-in. Preseason draft · the projection on record is locked Mon Oct 19.

#20

power ranking of 30

-1.1

strength per 100 possessions

est. wins (range 33–44)

est. <1%

title chance

Team strength

Our model rates the Lakers 1.1 points per 100 possessions worse than an average team, #20 of 30. Strength comes from the current roster's lineup ratings, minutes-weighted. 53 wins last season.

Who drives it	Min	Rating
Luka Dončić	29	+4.8
Austin Reaves	28	+3.9
Walker Kessler	24	+2.8
Kevon Looney	12	+3.3
Sandro Mamukelashvili	18	+1.4

Chances this season

From 5,000 simulated seasons. Estimates, not promises; nobody is "in" or "out" until it's mathematically settled.

Make the playoffs	est. 37%
Play-in (7th to 10th)	est. 45%
No. 1 seed in the West	est. <1%
Win the West	est. <1%
Win the title	est. <1%

All 30 teams on the Season page →

Next game

Next: Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Lakers, Wed, Oct 21, 10:00 PM ET.

Preseason: picks start Oct 20. Our pick posts before tip-off.

Every Lakers pick, graded

Preseason: picks start Oct 20; every one gets graded in public. Every graded pick →

Quick answers

Will the Los Angeles Lakers make the playoffs?

Our model gives them est. 37% as of Oct 9 (a top-6 seed or a spot through the play-in), with a title chance of est. <1%. It's a projection from the data and it changes as the season goes.

When do the Lakers play next?

Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Lakers, Wed, Oct 21. Our pick posts before tip-off (preseason: picks start oct 20).

How accurate are niftiIQ's Lakers predictions?

Every pick is stored before tip-off and graded after the final, in public. Picks start Oct 20.

How this works

Team strength comes from each roster's lineup ratings; the rest of the schedule is simulated 5,000 times for the season chances. Game picks come from a model that retrains before every run, and every pick is stored before tip-off and graded after the final. How it works · All 30 teams · NBA FAQ