LeBron James, the star of the Los Angeles Lakers, isn’t overly concerned about the NBA standings as the team strives to enhance its position in the Western Conference playoff race.

“In the end, our focus isn’t really on seeding,” he mentioned, according to the Los Angeles Times’ Dan Woike. “We’re concentrating on what we can control. We can’t influence the seeding if other teams continue to perform well. What we can control is going out there, playing, and striving to win as many games as possible to see where we end up.”

Even after securing a 101-94 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday, the Lakers remain in ninth place in the West with a record of 38-32. They trail the Dallas Mavericks by three games for the sixth seed, which would exempt them from the play-in tournament.

James’ standpoint is rational and likely the most suitable one for him and his teammates given the circumstances.

The 20-time All-Star wasn’t suggesting that seeding holds no significance or implying that finishing in the top six versus landing in the play-in doesn’t matter.

Undoubtedly, climbing to sixth place and avoiding the play-in scenario would be preferable for the Lakers. Apart from the inherent risks associated with the play-in tournament, playing an additional game or two adds to the physical strain on the team.

As James highlighted, there are limitations to what the Lakers can do independently to make strides in the playoff race. They must approach each of their remaining 12 games as opportunities to progress while being mindful not to rely too heavily on external assistance.

Continuously monitoring the postseason standings won’t actually alter anything for the Lakers in terms of improving their chances.