LeBron James prepares to push Lakers 'to make the playoffs'

SALT LAKE CITY — Twenty years into his heralded time in the NBA, LeBron James didn't mince words when asked about the challenge ahead for the Los Angeles Lakers in order to secure a postseason spot.

«It's 23 of the most important games of my career, for a regular season,» James said Sunday before playing in a record-tying 19th All-Star Game. «It's the type of mindset that I have, and I hope the guys will have, coming back off the break.»

After four NBA championships, 10 trips to the Finals and personal achievements galore, including his recent ascension as league's all-time leading scorer, putting such an emphasis on this late stretch season could come off as hyperbole.

James explained his stance, revealing that the urgency didn't start over the All-Star break but at the end of last season when Los Angeles failed to qualify for the postseason — just the fourth time in his first 19 seasons that his team didn't make it there.

«I want to make a push to make the playoffs,» James said. «I don't want to see myself not being part of the postseason for two years straight. It's just not part of my DNA. We're sitting up here talking about the [scoring] record and things of that nature, and that's all cool, but I'm more passionate about trying to make the postseason and give ourselves a chance to compete for another Larry O'Brien Trophy. That's just who I am. That's what I'm cut from.»

And if the Lakers can qualify for the postseason, then what?

«I've always been confident in any club that I've been on once we got into the playoffs that we can compete with anyone, and I feel no different now,» James said. «With the roster the way we're shaped up right now, if we can finish off this regular season on the right foot, then we can