Lakers Have Never Avoided Sweep When Trailing Series 3-0

Eight times the Lakers have trailed a playoff series by 3-0 count, and eight times they have been swept.

Thats right, the Lakers are 0-8 in series in which they trail 3-0, the worst mark in the NBA. It last happened in 2013.

Throughout history, teams that trail by a 3-0 count are 0-149. Zero. And 149.

And guess what? The Lakers now trail 3-0 for a ninth time, this time in the Western Conference finals vs. the Nuggets. (Full column.)

So again, in all previous eight series in which the Lakers have trailed 3-0, they haven’t even managed to win a single game. All of this is courtesy of ESPN Stats and Info.

But as for Lakers star LeBron James, well, he implied his belief in a basketball miracle is still there.

“I mean, it should be. I hope so,” James said, via Dan Woike of the LA Times. “I can’t speak for the guys right now because I don’t know what’s going on through all their minds right now. But I still do.”

There was a time, and not long ago, when you wouldn’t dare write off James, not even when facing an obstacle such as this. But these days, LeBron and these Lakers only look capable of snapping the streak of being swept.

They might win a game. But they’re not as good as the Nuggets, and this series may not be over Monday, but it will be soon.

This is the 1st time since 2013 the Lakers are down 3-0 in a playoff series.

The Lakers have never even won a playoff game after going down 3-0, let alone win a series.

Their 0-8 record is the most losses without a win in NBA history. pic.twitter.com/nql2tvsptW

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 21, 2023