LeBron James' return shakes up already tight playoff race

For the Lakers, James' return couldn't come at a better time. For the rest of the Western conference, not so much.

With eight games left in the regular season, the playoff race in the West is neck-and-neck. Other than the already-clinched Denver Nuggets, Memphis Grizzlies and third-place Sacramento Kings, only three games separates fourth and 11th place.

The Lakers (37-37) are in the middle of the pack at eighth, earning them a play-in spot. But they may continue to rise with the return of the James, and subsequently bump teams down or out of contention. There's no better player to lead a comeback than the four-time NBA champion.

That said, a sidelined James proved somewhat fruitful for LA. The Lakers went 8-5 in his absence and showcased their depth.

Power forward Anthony Davis has continued to dominant when healthy, averaging 26.1 points and 12.5 rebounds while shooting 56.3% from the field. 

Point guard D'Angelo Russell has settled into his new team, averaging 18.0 points and 6.2 assists. And rising star Austin Reaves stepped up to the plate with his clutch 35-point performance. 

Add James to that squad — who's averaging 29.5 points, 8.4 rebounds and 6.9 assists — and the Lakers look like a serious threat to a conference fighting tooth and nail for a shot at glory.