Shannon Sharpe made a bold and controversial statement on ESPN’s First Take, declaring that if the Los Angeles Lakers face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals, they will advance to the NBA Finals.
Sharpe’s confidence in the Lakers was met with immediate skepticism from Stephen A. Smith and Brian Windhorst, who were visibly stunned by his take.
Shannon Sharpe: “Let us get OKC in the Western Conference Finals. I guarantee you.”
Stephen A. Smith: “What? What?”
Shannon Sharpe: “If the Lakers get the OKC Thunder in the Western Conference, we are going to the NBA Finals.”
Stephen A. Smith: “You’re going to beat the Oklahoma City? Shannon needs to be drug tested. Something’s wrong with you right now. Something’s absolutely wrong with you right now.”
“Let me tell you something. First of all, you better hope you don’t run into Denver beforehand. I’m mentioning Denver only because that’s your kryptonite. And Jaxson Hayes ain’t going to get it done. You need some girth You need some size to deal with those brothers. That ain’t gonna happen.”
“If the Lakers get the OKC Thunder in the Western Conference, we are going to the NBA Finals!”
– Shannon Sharpe
(Via @FirstTake / h/t @ClutchPoints )
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) February 11, 2025
Sharpe’s optimism is fueled by the Lakers’ recent surge, as they have won 11 of their last 13 games and climbed to the fourth seed in the Western Conference with a 32-19 record. They have now tied for third in the loss column and are just 2.5 games behind the second-seeded Memphis Grizzlies. Since January 15, the Lakers have boasted the best defense in the NBA, the seventh-best offense, and the second-best net rating.
With LeBron James still playing at an elite level and Luka Doncic settling into his role, the Lakers appear to be legitimate contenders. However, while Sharpe may believe the Lakers can overpower OKC, the Thunder have been on an entirely different level this season.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have dominated the league from the start, currently holding the NBA’s best record at 43-9. They have an eight-game lead over the second seed in the Western Conference, which is the same gap between the second seed and the tenth seed.
OKC’s success has been driven by their elite defense and balanced offense. They hold the number one defense in the league, and the gap between them and the second-best defensive team is as large as the gap between the second and tenth-ranked teams. Along with the sixth-best offense and the best net rating in the NBA, the Thunder have established themselves as the most complete team this season.
And they’ve managed to do this while missing Chet Holmgren for a significant stretch of games. With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander playing at an MVP level and a deep, well-rounded roster, OKC appears to be a nearly unstoppable force.
Before the Lakers can even think about taking on OKC in the Western Conference Finals, they must first overcome their greatest roadblock—the Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets have eliminated the Lakers in back-to-back seasons and have dominated them for years. Nikola Jokic and Denver’s frontcourt have been a nightmare matchup for Los Angeles, and their size and physicality expose the Lakers’ biggest weakness.
Beyond Denver, the Lakers will also have to contend with the Houston Rockets and Memphis Grizzlies, two teams that have been consistently strong throughout the season.
The Western Conference is as competitive as it has ever been, and the road to the Finals will be filled with challenges. While the Lakers have been playing their best basketball as of late, they will need to prove they can sustain this level of play against elite teams in the postseason.
Shannon Sharpe’s confidence in the Lakers taking down the Thunder in a seven-game series is bold but questionable. While the Lakers have been one of the hottest teams in the NBA over the past month, the Thunder have been dominant for the entire season. OKC’s defense, depth, and balance make them a nightmare matchup for any team, including the Lakers.
Even if Los Angeles does manage to get past OKC, they will still have to deal with Denver, who has been their postseason kryptonite. Stephen A. Smith and Brian Windhorst’s reactions say it all—the Lakers still have a long way to go before being considered Western Conference favorites.
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