The defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers find themselves in an unfamiliar position, as the final days of the regular season see the wounded Western Conference power eyeing the improved health of LeBron James while fighting for playoff positioning.
Meanwhile, teams like the Golden State Warriors and Washington Wizards find themselves playing their best basketball at the close of the season, with superstars Stephen Curry, Bradley Beal and Russell Westbrook elevating their teams' level of play as they chase the scoring title, triple-double history and, most importantly, wins.