The Shiga Lakestars are one of five Western Conference teams with a win total ranging between 15 and 17 through Sunday. And that means half of the West's teams are in that position. Parity it is, but also a dogfight for a ticket to the playoffs.
The Lakestars (17-17) sit in fourth place. They are 10-6 in home games and 7-11 on the road. Their longest losing streak of the season was four games (Nov. 9-17 against Oita and Niigata), and their longest winning streak was five straight.
That streak ended on Sunday, a 92-67 defeat to Osaka.