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For the first time this season the Lakers are riding a clear foreword tailwind. They've won 19 of their last 26 in spite of injuries to key players, they've surged into the Western Conference playoff mix, and they haven't had a truly bad loss (as in one that makes us say, "I just can't watch this team anymore") since before the All-Star break. They still need to make a lot of progress before they can be deemed a threat to go deep into the playoffs, but you can start to see them advancing to that point. And with only 14 regular-season games left, it's not a moment too soon.
Tonight's game in Phoenix might be a little tricky in that the Lakers are on the second half of a back-to-back, the problems of fatigue made only worse by their shortened roster. But the Suns have lost four straight by double digits, so they might have entered "TANK YOU very much" mode. Which would suit me just fine.