As we head into the final 25 games of the season, making the playoffs is going to be very difficult for the Los Angeles Lakers.

As of today the Los Angeles Lakers, with a 23-34 record, are the 11th seed in the Western Conference. Concern among many Lakers fans revolves around whether the Lakers can make a playoff push and claw their way into playoff contention.

Best case scenario, the Lakers earn a playoff berth by sliding into the eighth seed. It is a feat which has only happened twice for the 16x champion NBA team.

The 1992-1993 season was the last time the Los Angeles Lakers made it to the playoffs as the 8th seed. With a record of 39-43, and players such as Byron Scott, James Worthy and the leading scorer at 15.1 points per game Sedale Threatt, clinched a playoff spot. Unfortunately, for the Lakers, they could not get past the first round losing the series to the Phoenix Suns.

Since the NBA has adopted the 16-team playoff format in the 1983-1984 season, 25 teams that ended the regular season as the 8th seed had a record of .500 or better. With only 25 games left in this season, the Los Angeles Lakers have little room for error.

The Lakers need to win 18 out of their 25 remaining games to end the season with a 41-41 record. Ending with a .500 record, while highly unlikely for the Lakers, is still possible.

However, Lakers fans might be less inclined to believe in a playoff push as the team traded two of their young players. Larry Nance Jr. and Jordan Clarkson were sent to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Isaiah Thomas, Channing Frye and the Cavaliers 2018 first-round draft pick.

Thomas could very well be a great asset offensively this season but is still not 100 percent from his hip injury. Add to that Lonzo Ball, who returned from a sprained left MCL last night against the Dallas Mavericks. He hadn’t played a game since January 13.

Best case scenario, Isaiah Thomas’ hip becomes a non-factor and Lonzo comes back stronger than before. However, there is still the matter of their remaining schedule which is not an easy one.

A schedule that includes games against the San Antonio Spurs (twice), Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Clippers is certainly not one that bodes in the Lakers favor. Not to mention that the Lakers play the Utah Jazz, who recently had an 11-game win streak snapped.

Can the Lakers get into the playoffs with a sub-par .500 record?

The last team to participate in the playoffs with a record below .500 in the Western Conference was in 1996 by the Clippers. With the current standings in the Western Conference, it’s doubtful the Lakers would be able to get away with a sub-par .500 record and clinch a playoff spot this season.

The Jazz, the Clippers, Pelicans and Portland Trail Blazers all have a record over the .500 mark and are ahead of the Lakers in the standings. Can the Lakers achieve a .500 record by the end of the season? Or will they remain stuck with the worst possible outcome-No playoffs, and no lottery picks. We all will have to wait and see.