I think its more of the injury that AD first and then Lebron that really break down the Lakers this season.

Those new guys have started to fit nicely specially Dennis Schröder, but Gasol, not that much. But when their two top stars got injured, no one really step up their game, I would say that Kuzma was somewhat a disappointment. Andre Drummond try his best, but was also suffering from hamstring injury. So it's a combination of factors that's why we don't see any spark late in the season.

^^ Yes I do agree, but they have dig themselves deeper in this playoff, and they are going to face a top seed entering the playoffs. So it will be a different Lakers from last year, now they don't have the luxury of home court, and they are going to fight every game.

Hope James can go back pre-injury, posting good numbers like what we are seeing in Kevin Durant. But he needs more games to adjust and they to win to give themselves some confidence going into the playoffs.

Winning the next games will be the most important for them and they cannot slack with these upcoming games since they are already washed to the shore. The rest of the teams in the play-in method would eager to get to their current spot and that's if they let it happened. Their last 8 games will be against a contender team especially Phoenix Suns. they should get everything done this time if they don't want to devastatingly miss this playoff again.

You have a point. Lakers has been bugged by Injuries this year. AD and LeBron hasn't played each other for quite a long time since AD got injured first.
Drummond acquisition made them become more bigger. So, yeah anyone could beat them with speed. Especially when Schröder isn't playing. He plays a major role to the Lakers team.
Now, If the Lakers can't complete their roster fully healthy in the remainder of the season. I'm afraid they'll lose everything.

I'm starting to lose the confidence with them making to the playoffs.

Since Lebron has moved to the Lakers(2018), he has never beaten the Raptors. That's some interesting stat. While Lebron was in the Cavs, he had never lost to the Raptors. It's like the law of averages working it out.

Unfortunately his injured and aging so this kind of losses is considerable since he's not at his 100% or maybe in decent posture, but for seeing him becoming injury prone recently I'm worried that he might retired soon since he leave a statement that he will never be back at his 100℅  so maybe this could affect his games in long run, hopwfully he recover asap and became in good shape at play offs.

Big week or 2 for the knicks.  On the road against the nuggets, Memphis, suns, Lakers and clippers.  Thats a tough run.  They need to go 3-2 on that run.  Atlanta and heat right behind them with lighter schedules.  Would obviously like to see them in the 4 slot but 5 wouldn't be bad as well.  Just don't like them in the 6 hole starting on the road against the bucks (most likely).  Starts tonight need another W!

Indeed! as long as LeBron continue playing and they are still inside the competition there are still many fans
and believers that Lakers can still depend that title,

It's those injuries that affects their performance coming to the next round, but once they've settle this up and start playing with a much
healthier squad.

Moving to the next round might tough, but it's the Lakers that we are talking here, they still have the skills and all the necessary
needs to compete and win to whoever team that they will face in this incoming playoffs.

People forget that Lebron is an insane basketball player when he can play at 100%. Cavs were 4th in the league on his last season and he almost took out Warriors on the first game if it wasn't for JR Smith mistake in the end. Sure it wasn't really just him, but 90%+ was all him, that is why I think it is clear that if Lebron comes back and plays with 100% plus you give him AD as well? That is going to be so much different.

I do not think that there is even a slight chance that they could miss the playoffs, they will make it to playoffs for sure and they are going to beat everyone again, he is just that good and he has AD with him as well, AD is also another player who managed to bring his old team into slight success because without him New Orleans was a tanking level bottom team. With this much injury, it was expected for them to lose games obviously.

Thank you for this information!
This season several players suffered injuries, this is something of worrisome.

I hope these players will recover soon.
I read a news, LeBron James said he is not 100% recovered and he is in some pain, but I don't know if this is a rumor or if it is true.

I think for the Lakers win NBA this year, AD and LeBron James, need to be 100% recovered (or almost so), and the team needs to be in chemistry.