3 teams Lakers need to face in playoffs to make it to NBA Finals

On February 22nd, the Los Angeles Lakers finally defeated the Denver Nuggets. That win was actually a culmination of all the hard work they have put in at practice as LeBron James and his teammates work around adjusting to Luka Doncic‘s game.

The game showed that when the Slovenian gets going, it is difficult to stop him. But it was not one of his 50- or 70-point games that helped them win. Rather, it was a complete team performance, something fans of the franchise have been wanting to see.

They displayed how simple movement-based basketball can help them both on offense as well as on defense. They also showed how intelligence can help avoid their athletic deficiencies whenever they go up against some of those younger teams.

Prior to this game, many were adamant that the Lakers are at the most a first-round team. But now, that notion has changed and if the team lands these three opponents in each of the Western Conference rounds, they can make it to the NBA Finals.

Houston Rockets in the first round

If the regular season ended today, the Los Angeles Lakers will face the Houston Rockets in the first round. Both teams will get some days rest as the play-in games will be in session. That rest will greatly benefit the 40-year-old LeBron James.

The Rockets are a very well coached side. However, they lack playoff experience which could be their undoing. On the other hand, several Lakers players and coaches have considerable playoff experience. They know what adjustments are needed in the heat of the battle.

Moreover, playoff basketball is always played at a slower pace than regular season games, which also happens to be one of Luka Doncic’s favorite methods of playing basketball. They can slow it down to negate their younger opponents’ athletic abilities. That strategy could see them win the series in a relatively easy manner.

Los Angeles Lakers have to then face their Kyrptonite

The Lakers won convincingly for the first time against a Denver Nuggets team who won 13 games to 1 since the start of 2023. That record clearly shows Nikola Jokic and his teammates had the Lakers number for a considerable amount of time.

In fact, one of the reasons JJ Redick was hired was to figure out this puzzle. He finally figured it out, despite not having a proper interior defender to handle Jokic. They resorted to playing a different style that stifled the 3-time MVP and yet were not fatigued to ensure their scoring did not suffer.

In their previous fourteen meetings, the game was dependent on how LeBron James and Anthony Davis fared. The latter is no longer a part of the team and his history against international centers did not help matters. Without him, they played complete team basketball, sharing the ball and demoralizing the Nuggets.

Now that the puzzle is solved, skeptics now believe the Los Angeles Lakers can win a playoff series against their Kryptonite. Therefore, if they meet the Nuggets in the second round, it sure will be a battle of the ages, but the men in purple and gold finally know have the tools to beat them.

Beat the Thunder to book a ticket to the NBA Finals

It would make sense for the Lakers to finish off the Nuggets in five games or less. That extra rest will do wonders as they will now probably face the Oklahoma City Thunder. They are one of the two best teams in the league and will likely be the last obstacle.

The extreme difference in experience will again play a part in this series. But unlike the Rockets, the Thunder do not completely rely on athleticism. They have a deep roster and have players that can impact all facets of a game.

However, LeBron James and Luka Doncic’s game management will come to the fore. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander‘s foul baiting won’t work in the playoffs. That means, the two purple and gold superstars will have the upper hand when it comes to clutch play.

These three will be favorable matchups for the Los Angeles Lakers if they want to reach the NBA Finals. However, in case the league standings do change dramatically, the team can still hold a candle against the Los Angeles Clippers, Dallas Mavericks and Memphis Grizzlies.

It will not be plain sailing, but they rank No. 1 in both offense and defense over their past 17 games. That record does not include Anthony Davis’ exploits as he missed multiple games. The team are still working out their nuances. When the playoffs come around, other teams might want to avoid facing them.

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