LOS ANGELES — After dropping last night’s game against the Knicks, the Lakers are in a four-way tie for ninth-place in the West, but only a game out of seventh, two out of six, and two-and-a-half out of fifth. With 16 more games to go, L.A. has bought themselves a real shot at not just playing an 83rd game, but maybe even making a little playoff run. As the team gathers steam heading into some of the most important games of their season, here are a few trends to keep an eye on: