Reasons for and Against LA Lakers’ Playoff Hopes

The L.A. Lakers' playoff hopes have been pronounced dead almost as many times as they've been miraculously resuscitated this year.

So perhaps it's appropriate that an 8-4 February record and a mere two-and-a-half-game deficit in the Western Conference playoff race is being met with only the most cautious optimism in reasonable circles. But with the season drawing to a close in a matter of a few short weeks, it's time to take another look at the reasons why the Lakers really might have enough life left to crash the postseason party and why they might not.