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LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers scores his 40,000th career point during the first half against Michael Porter Jr. #1 of the Denver Nuggets.
Three-time and current NBA champion Chicago Bulls announcer Stacey King believes in ninth place the Los Angeles Lakers will reach the Western Conference Finals against the defending champion Denver Nuggets for the second straight season.
“Here’s a surprise for you” King told his broadcast partner during the Bulls-Los Angeles Clippers game on Thursday, March 14. “Denver will be in the Western Conference finals [against] the Lakers.
King’s bold prediction follows Lakers’ one disappointing defeat 120-107 at the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday, March 13. The Kings swept the Lakers for the first time since the 2015-16 season.
They were also swept by the Nuggets this season.
But King, who knows what championship teams are made of, noticed that the Lakers play differently in the playoffs.
“[The Lakers] are going to be in the play-in game,” King continued. “They’re going to have to fight their way through. But I tell you, don’t sleep on the Lakers. When the lights are bright, [they play their best]. I won’t be surprised to see the Lakers advance to the Western Conference Finals.
King had seen this LeBron JamesThe team-led Lakers team plays its best when the lights are at their brightest – from their run to the NBA Bubble title to the tournament’s inaugural in-season championship.
Last season, the Lakers also followed a similar path, exiting the play-in tournament.
Then the Lakers beat a young Memphis Grizzlies team in the first round and were eliminated. Stephen Curry and the Warriors of the Golden State in the second round.
Lakers and Warriors on Play-in Collision Course
The Lakers and Warriors could face each other again in the play-in tournament for the second time since the format was introduced in the 2019-20 season.
James and his Lakers hold a one-game lead over the Warriors for the ninth seed in the West heading into Saturday’s crucial matchup, their third meeting this season.
They have split their first two meetings, with the last scheduled for April 9, which could pave the way for a wildcat seeding maneuver in the West.
The Warriors are hoping Curry returns for their March 16 showdown at Crypto.com Arena following an ankle injury.
Austin says he’s ‘super confident’ about his playoff chances
Although the Lakers remain outside the top six in the West, Austin Reaves have exuded confidence that they can make a deep playoff run.
“No matter where we are, if we do our best and play the basketball that we know we can play…I think if you ask anyone in our locker room, we’re very confident with what we have “, Reaves told reporters after their Victory 120-109 against the Minnesota Timberwolves on March 10 by ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
If the Lakers stay in ninth place and make it out of the play-in tournament, they could face inexperienced playoff teams the Oklahoma City Thunder and Timberwolves in the first round, depending on their seeding.
The Lakers are 3-1 against the upstart Thunder this season. They are 1-2 against the Timberwolves with their fourth meeting scheduled for April 7.
Alder Almo is a basketball reporter who covers the New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors for Heavy. He has over 15 years of experience in local and international media, including broadcast, print and digital. He previously covered the Knicks for Empire Sports Media and the NBA for Off the Glass. Alder is originally from the Philippines and is now based in Jersey City, New Jersey. Learn more about Alder Almo
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