The Los Angeles Lakers are in the middle of a tight race in the Western Conference as they try to avoid the Play-In Tournament. The biggest issue for the Lakers has been consistency, especially on the defensive side. Above all, LeBron James wants to compete for a legitimate championship contender.

“LeBron wants to compete for a championship,” Rich Paul told ESPN. “He knows the Lakers are building for the future. He understands that, but he values a realistic chance of winning it all. We are very appreciative of the partnership that we’ve had for eight years with Jeanie [Buss] and Rob [Pelinka] and consider the Lakers as a critical part of his career.”

The Lakers have looked like a strong team at times, but at other moments they still appear to be searching for answers. On Thursday night, James went down with an injury after taking a hard fall during a game against the Denver Nuggets.

“Another record-setting night for LeBron James ended painfully, as he hurt his elbow in a hard fall during the fourth quarter of the Los Angeles Lakers’ game against the Denver Nuggets. James drove and hit a layup with just over 4 minutes to go, but he came down hard and immediately grasped at his elbow,” Jace Evans wrote for USA Today.

After the game, James was asked why the referees did not call a foul on Nikola Jokic during the play that led to his injury. James responded with a NSFW rant.

“It’s the same s—. ‘Marginal.’ It’s the same s—. It’s, it’s, it’s … whatever. That’s all they keep saying is, ‘marginal.’ I’m so f—ing tired of that word,” James told the media.

Some of that frustration could stem from losing a close game with major playoff implications. The Lakers are entering a difficult stretch in their schedule, and they are well aware of what is at stake.

James’ reaction could be an early sign of just how crucial the next five games are for the Lakers. It truly is make-or-break time for Los Angeles, and if they are not careful, the situation could quickly become dangerous.