NBA Playoff Predictions: “Lakers could end up home in the first round,” Stephen A. Smith doesn’t hold back
Stephen A. Smith predicts Lakers' early playoff exit while LeBron James highlights challenges ahead
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ESPN’s First Take host Stephen A. Smith has predicted that the Los Angeles Lakers may be heading home early in the NBA playoffs this season. Smith believes that the Memphis Grizzlies, led by their dynamic point guard Ja Morant, could pose a serious threat to the Lakers’ chances of advancing past the first round.
Smith acknowledged the Lakers’ star power in LeBron James and Anthony Davis but stressed that the Grizzlies have a deep and talented roster that could cause problems for the Lakers. He highlighted the play of Morant, Dillon Brooks, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr. as reasons for the Grizzlies’ potential success.
Stephen A. Smith’s forecast was made before the Lakers’ upcoming play-in game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Even if the Lakers triumph over the Timberwolves, they will face a formidable obstacle in the Grizzlies.
“The Lakers could end up home in the first round,” Smith said on ESPN’s First Take. “Let’s just call it what it is. We want to applaud the Lakers for what they have done this year. They’ve got a chance. I’m not gonna sit here and tell you that they don’t have a chance. They got LeBron James. … Anthony Davis showed up. We know what he’s capable of when he’s on the basketball court.
He further added:
“But we talking about the Memphis Grizzlies here. … Last time I checked, they got Ja Morant, and this brother is something special. And he’s on a mission. And the Memphis Grizzlies, by the way, have never made the NBA Finals. … I look at Desmond Bane. I look at Dillon Brooks. I look at Ja Morant. I look at Jaren Jackson Jr. … If he can find a way to get himself out of foul trouble, then let me be very, very clear to you, America: Memphis is no joke.”
Although the Lakers are favored to secure the seventh seed in the Western Conference, defeating the Grizzlies will require them to perform at their peak. However, if Smith’s forecast proves accurate, it would be a letdown conclusion to a season that commenced with optimistic expectations for the Lakers.
LeBron James talks challenges of facing Timberwolves
LeBron James knows that the Lakers’ path to the NBA playoffs won’t be easy, even if they do make it past the play-in game against the Timberwolves. Speaking to the media after the Lakers’ final regular season game, James outlined the challenges that the Timberwolves pose.
James highlighted the scoring ability of Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards, noting that either player could drop 40 points on any given night. He also praised the play of Timberwolves point guard Mike Conley, who has extensive playoff experience.
Despite the Timberwolves facing significant setbacks such as Rudy Gobert’s one-game suspension and Jaden McDaniels’ fractured hand, James is not underestimating the competition. He recognizes that the playoffs are a highly unpredictable affair, and any team has the potential to be a formidable opponent.
The Lakers will need to be firing on all cylinders if they want to make a deep playoff run this season. While James and Davis are the team’s primary weapons, they will need contributions from their supporting cast if they want to make it past the Grizzlies and beyond.
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Vivek Yadav
(624 Articles Published)