“Most important games of my career, for a regular season.” Those were the words of LeBron James before lacing up to play in a record-tying 19th all-star game. That is a strong statement from a guy whose team is sitting outside the play-in tournament. However, anyone who has followed LeBron’s career knows that if he makes such a bold statement, he usually backs it up with a strong performance.

Recently, those strong performances haven’t shown up in the win column for his Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers hold the 13th spot in the Western Conference with a 27-32 record. Still, they are only two games outside the 10th seed and six behind the 3rd-seeded Sacramento Kings. Interestingly, the Laker’s strength of schedule is ranked as the 4th easiest remaining schedule in the  Western Conference teams.

The Laker’s first twelve games after the all-star break include two games versus the Warriors, Grizzles, and Mavs. They then have single-game match-ups versus the Thunder, T-Wolves, Raptors, Knicks, Pelicans, and Rockets. If the Lakers want to make a serious playoff push, they must go on a run they have been incapable of doing up to this juncture of the season.

The Lakers need to win their four games against the Warriors and Mavs, split their two games against the Grizzles, and win at least five of their six games against the Thunder, T-Wolves, Raptors, Knicks, Pelicans, and Rockets. If Lebron James and Anthony Davis stay healthy during their first twelve games after the all-star break, the Lakers can finish with a 10-2 record. That would put them at 37-32 with eleven games remaining. This could position the Lakers between the 8th to 6th seed in the Western Conference.

LeBron’s statements suggest we will see “playoff Lebron” coming out of the all-star break. The reconstructed Lakers now support this version of LeBron. Rob Pelinka did an excellent job bringing in more shooting, defense, depth, and youth. I suspect to see the LeBron that picks apart defenses with his vision and passing, finding his open shooters. This leads to defenses expanding to cover shooters and allows the lane to open for both LeBron and Anthony Davis.

This differs significantly from what we’ve seen from LeBron in the past two seasons. Lebron has looked to dominate the game by scoring, averaging close to 30 points per game. D’Angelo Russell adds a new dynamic to the reconstructed Lakers, as his shooting and play-making ability make him a great fit next to Anthony Davis. This allows the Lakers to lower LeBron’s minutes by deploying a lineup led by Davis and Russell.

Going on a 10-2 run in their first twelve games will give the Lakers much-needed momentum. Their final eleven games of the season include two games each versus the Suns, Bulls, and Jazz. They round out their remaining five games against the Magic, Thunder, T-Wolves, Rockets, and Clippers. I suspect the Lakers to finish those eleven games at 8-3, giving them a 45-35 record at the close of the regular season. That record is likely good enough to earn the Lakers a 6th seed in the Western Conference playoffs.

Often, Lebron’s statements imply something he is not outright expressing. His current statement is no different. By proclaiming these final twenty-three games of the season as “the most important regular season games of his career,” LeBron is not only signaling the significance of these games but also that he believes in the team Rob Pelinka has constructed around him. Otherwise, LeBron would have answered the questions the same way he has consistently done all year, “lead the group of guys we have in the locker room.” Instead, he put a stamp of importance on these final games. That stamp includes a seal of confidence that he has with the new-look Lakers, who will start their playoff push at home against the Warriors.