Normally, a 7th seed wouldn’t be projected to get past the first round, but this year is different. Across the league, a case can be made for every playoff team to make the NBA Finals and the Lakers are no different.
In fact, as he admitted to the media on Saturday, it’s not just the West that’s wide open. He sees a path for every team in attendance to make a real run.
“I think it’s 16 teams in the postseason and there’s opportunity for all 16.”
LeBron James on if the West feels wide open this season: "I think it’s 16 teams in the postseason and there’s opportunity for all 16."
— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) April 15, 2023
The Lakers managed to make the playoffs and win the play-in, so they have some time to prepare for their first-round series against the Memphis Grizzlies. Interestingly, experts are split on which team will win and many have the 7th-seeded Lakers actually pulling off an upset and moving on to the second round. Some even have them winning the entire thing.
To make those hopes a reality, the Lakers will first have to handle business against their old enemies in Memphis and Anthony Davis already has the perfect plan on how to stop first-time All-Star, Jaren Jackson Jr.
“We have some things for it,” said AD. “I’m not going to say it and have it get back to Memphis and things like that. But we have ways to kinda combat what he likes to do. … We talked about it. And we’ll be ready for it.”
AD on the Lakers countering JJJ roaming defensively: "We have some things for it. I'm not going to say it and have it get back to Memphis and things like that. But we have ways to kinda combat what he likes to do. … We talked about it. And we'll be ready for it."
— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) April 15, 2023
The Lakers worked hard in the second half of the season to give themselves this chance, and they don’t intend on blowing it now. With Game 1 set for tomorrow, LeBron, Davis, and the rest of the Lakers will be working all day and night to assemble the perfect game plan.
Will The Lakers Advance Past The First Round?
The Grizzlies will be without Steven Adams for the series, which obviously gives the Lakers a pretty big advantage. As a veteran with the ultimate playoff experience, it’s also expected that LeBron will control the series and keep the tempo at his speed.
“This is a tough matchup for Memphis. I expect LeBron to have the tempo of the game where he wants and not just try to get up and down with that young Memphis team,” said Draymond Green. “Ja Morant loves to get to the paint and you got a shot-blocker like AD at the rim. You got Jarred Vanderbilt muckin’ stuff up, LeBron muckin’ stiff up. I probably should be careful with giving someone some bulletin board material because this would be our next opponent when we take care of our business, but I think the Lakers will take this series. I think it’ll be an upset. It will not be easy… but I think the Lakers may take this series.”
This is going to be an exciting series in the West and it could really go either way. But if you value experience and star power, then the Lakers are an easy choice to win.
But the Grizzlies aren’t the only team in their way, and if they manage to take care of business against Memphis, they’ll have even tougher challenges waiting on the road ahead.
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