The 15-21 Lakers are in a serious hole, dropping six consecutive games and facing real danger that they might not make the playoffs.

Now they’re currently in 11th place in the Western Conference, 13 games behind the first-place Oklahoma City Thunder. In the Pacific Division, the Lakers are 12 1/2 games behind the Los Angeles Clippers.

Catching the fifth-place Golden State Warriors (23-12) seems out of reach, even if it’s mathematically possible.

The Lakers’ main goal is simply to finish in eighth place, although as high as sixth is still somewhat attainable.

Catching the Portland Trail Blazers, the Utah Jazz and the Houston Rockets for the final spots seems within reason, especially with tie-breaking games still on the schedule with the Blazers and Rockets.

There’s still plenty of time left in the season but not much for the Lakers if they don’t win in the neighborhood of three out of every four through the rest of the way.

via Eric Pincus of The Los Angeles Times