The Los Angeles Lakers are just a team full of misfits lead by Lebron James and Anthony Davis, two of the league’s top 5 players. Even when the spotlight was on them all year long, they still had to compete with their Staple Center rivals the LA Clippers. With Kawhi Leonard and Paul George leaving the bubble by blowing a 3-1 lead to the Denver Nuggets, I don’t see Lebron and company even being challenged these next two series. Winning another NBA Title would put Lebron on a pedestal higher than he already was. Let’s just look at the additions the Lakers needed, to be the 1 seed that Magic Johnson had envisioned when he signed Lebron on July 1st, 2018.
When the Lakers sent Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, and three 1st round picks to the New Orleans Pelicans for the NBA’s best big man Anthony Davis, everybody knew that LA was in full championship mode and Lebron was destined for his fourth ring. After that trade the spotlight and standards have been raised on the NBA’s best team and they haven’t let up the expectations. Even though Lebron is the best player that we have laid our eyes on to touch a basketball and AD, The Brow, is a once in a generation big man, they didn’t do this by themselves.
You remember me saying the Lakers have misfits, Lebron has emerged these guys to be championship contenders. With additions like Dion Waiters, a guy who got so high on edibles on the Miami Heat’s team plane that they released him. JR Smith, who infamously forgot the score in the 2018 Finals vs the Warriors, trust me you’ve seen it. Javale McGee who seemed to be on Shaqtin A Fool every week when he wasn’t in a Laker uniform. Dwight Howard, at one time the best big man in the league who was doubted and said couldn’t play anymore and played for 4 teams in 5 years. Then you have other guys who fill in like the Rajon Rondo, Markieff Morris, Avery Bradley, and reigning champion Danny Green who are veterans that make a difference in this league night in and night out and will help “The King” get his fourth ring.
It all starts Friday, Denver Nuggets come to the bubble as an underdog once again trying to beat the other LA team. Everyone knows that the Nuggets are gritty and have a young team but will they be able to play with the big dogs? Absolutley no shot. What is Mike Malone, respectively one of the best coaches, going to do with Lebron. Lebron James, getting his 16th ALL NBA Team selection, 13th 1st team selection is going to be a problem to the Nuggets lackluster defense. Jokic physically cannot keep up with Anthony Davis, the Kentucky Wildcat alum who just received another 1st team All NBA selection. While those guys are doing their things, you have shooters like Kadwell-Pope, Kuzma, Green, Morris, and JR Smith.
The Celtics in my eyes are the only chance with Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kemba Walker, and Gordon Hayward. The only team left with star power that can run with the Lakers is Boston.The Lakers will win this Nuggets series by 5-6 games with ease. If they match up to the Heat, Lakers will win the championship in 5 games. If the Lakers end up playing Boston in the Finals, I expect a seven game series and the most competitive NBA Finals since the Cavs and Pre Kevin Durant Warriors. Bottom line is no matter who Lebron and AD go up against, historically there is no duo that could defensively matchup this package of a fluent passing ball handler and big man.
Davis and James will get their rings this year and prove it to every person saying Lebron isn’t going to be dominant in this West. This is the same man who time and time again when the media says he can’t do this and when every team stacks up against him, he goes head on with the challenge and proves every single hater wrong.
Crev’s Corner 