Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach Phil Handy believed the team could have beaten the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals had they not made costly mistakes over the course of the seven-game series that saw them get swept 4-0.
“We made the Playoffs, and we just moved in the right direction at the right time, and I also felt like we could’ve beaten Denver,” Handy said.
“We kind of slipped up some games, but all things considered, it was a successful season based on how we started,” Handy said in his Basketball Con appearance in Manila, Philippines.
“We had a successful season last year, but I felt like we could’ve done more,” Handy said. “The guys we brought in really helped us get over the hump, and we just had a hell of a run in the second half of the season to get us to that point. We didn’t even think we’d make the Playoffs, and I’m pretty sure most of you here were disappointed and were thinking that the Lakers weren’t going to make the Playoffs. We’ll make sure to start off next season on the right foot.”
Handy does make a point. Given their 0-5 start to the season, LA was in dire straits and their playoff qualification looked bleak, had they not made some smart moves ahead of the trade deadline. But their miraculous run ended in the WCF. And while it did mean they finished their run without a title, they stormed back to contention, and that will be looked at as a huge plus for the side.
The Los Angeles Lakers Have An Interesting Summer Ahead Of Them
With Chris Paul now a Warrior, all eyes will shift back to the Kyrie Irving to the Lakers narrative. While there is no definitive inkling that says the team will make a beeline for the mercurial point guard, the murmurs are still very much doing the rounds.
For now, the most logical move that the Lakers can make is to swap some of their pieces for a skilled and competent player, rather than a big name and try to run it back.
They did well by filling up slots that needed to be addressed last season, and now it’s about ensuring that they have some backup for the issues that are likely to crop up if they just look at blowing up the roster. All said, it will be an interesting summer in LA.
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