Comparing the Los Angeles Lakers 2026 Postseason Run to Last Year’s Collapse
The Los Angeles Lakers' 2025-2026 NBA season has concluded. This second-round exit has prompted fans and analysts to assess a postseason markedly different from the previous year. Under head coach JJ Redick, the Lakers achieved consecutive 50-win seasons and won back-to-back Pacific Division titles. Nevertheless, their journeys through the 2025 and 2026 playoffs were vastly different, especially in terms of expectations, roster health, and resilience.
Their 2025 postseason elimination was characterized by star talent and unrealized potential. After a blockbuster midseason trade sending Anthony Davis to Dallas for superstar Luka Dončić, the Lakers finished the regular season as a formidable force. They clinched the third seed in the Western Conference with a 50-32 record and entered the playoffs with LeBron James and Dončić fully healthy. Despite the excitement around the championship, the team's insufficient depth and weak defensive cohesion proved to be their downfall. In the first round against the sixth-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves, the Lakers were clearly outplayed, losing in five games. This disappointing exit raised pressing concerns for the front office about team chemistry and defensive organization.
Moving into the 2025-26 season, the story shifted from underperformance to resilience. The Lakers finished with a 53-29 record, powered by a strong 16-2 streak in February and March, securing the fourth seed. However, disaster struck when Dončić and key playmaker Austin Reaves both sustained serious injuries, ruling them out of the playoffs. Initially considered heavy underdogs by oddsmakers against the fifth-seeded Houston Rockets, James and a determined supporting squad defied expectations. Using situational play and resilience, the Lakers, despite being short-handed, defeated Houston in six games. Although their run ended with a sweep in the Western Conference Semifinals against the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, they advanced one round further than the previous year in much tougher conditions.
Although Redick's tactical changes faced criticism during their 2025 first-round exit, his growth was evident in 2026. The 41-year-old head coach effectively slowed the pace, focusing on half-court play to compensate for a thin, injured rotation. In the 2025 playoffs, James shared the spotlight with Dončić. By 2026, the 41-year-old superstar had to shoulder the team's burden alone again, leading them to a surprising second-round run that restored hope to the season. While the 2024-25 campaign was a fleeting sprint, the 2025-26 postseason was a fight for survival. Advancing to the second round without a scoring star injured showed that this team's core culture goes beyond what stats and odds suggest.
