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Los Angeles Lakers well represented in 2018 NBA Finals

By Kenneth Teape

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 05: (L-R) Robert Sacre #50, Nick Young #0, Jordan Clarkson #6, Brandon Bass #2 and Larry Nance Jr. #7 of the Los Angeles Lakers watch play during a 109-88 loss to the Golden State Warriors at Staples Center on January 5, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and condition of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 05: (L-R) Robert Sacre #50, Nick Young #0, Jordan Clarkson #6, Brandon Bass #2 and Larry Nance Jr. #7 of the Los Angeles Lakers watch play during a 109-88 loss to the Golden State Warriors at Staples Center on January 5, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and condition of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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The Los Angeles Lakers are going to be well represented in the 2018 NBA Finals with multiple former players taking the court.

The Los Angeles Lakers missed the postseason for a fifth consecutive year following the 2017-18 regular season. While the Lakers have been hard at work beginning their offseason preparations, the NBA Postseason has moved right along.

We are almost at the end of the 2017-18 season. With the Golden State Warriors eliminating the Houston Rockets in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals on Monday night, there are now only two teams remaining. The Warriors will face off with the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2018 NBA Finals.

Cleveland also won in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals, defeating the Boston Celtics. Lakers fans had to be a little happy seeing their long-time rivals in the Celtics get knocked off, in Boston nonetheless.

The Warriors and Cavaliers will be facing off for the fourth consecutive year in the NBA Finals. This year, however, Lakers fans will have a little more interest than usual.

Free agency will be huge for the Lakers this summer. They are hoping to land multiple max free agents, with LeBron James at the top of that list. Los Angeles fans will also have the pleasure of watching former players partaking in the games.

Lakers fans will be happy to see former players Nick Young, Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. partaking in the NBA Finals.

Young played four seasons with the Lakers before signing with the Warriors in free agency prior to this season. Young developed into a solid veteran presence throughout his Lakers tenure, turning into a valuable player for Luke Walton during the 2016-17 season.

Young’s 3-point shooting added to the embarrassment of riches that Golden State already had. At all times the Warriors have at least three, if not four or five, players capable of spreading the court and knocking down 3-pointers.

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Young will be lining up against two of his former teammates in Clarkson and Nance. Clarkson and Nance were both involved in the blockbuster trade deadline deal Los Angeles and Cleveland completed in February.

Clarkson and Nance were sent to Cleveland in exchange for Isaiah Thomas, Channing Frye and a 2018 first round draft pick. Both Clarkson and Nance saw similar success in the regular season with the Cavaliers as they saw with the Lakers. However, the postseason has not been as good.

Clarkson has been brutal in the postseason for Cleveland. He is not delivering the same impact offensively as he did in the regular season as he cannot buy a bucket. Clarkson is shooting 34-for-110 in the postseason, or 30.9 percent. He is 11-of-43 from the 3-point line, 25.6 percent.

Clarkson has seen his minutes dwindle, but he could be called upon more against the Warriors. Cleveland will probably play smaller against Golden State, which could open up some more minutes.

Nance should also see more minutes against the Warriors and their small ball lineups. Nance was pushed into duty against the Celtics and responded with a good series. His athleticism and energy were a boost for a Cleveland team that looked stuck in the mud for a majority of the series against Boston.

Nance missed only two shots the whole series against Boston and made his presence felt on the boards and as a shot blocker. Cleveland will need that energy against Golden State, especially on the defensive end.

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The former Lakers in this series will have an impact in this series. The bench play will be something to watch throughout the NBA Finals. Golden State keeps things rolling no matter who is on the court, while Cleveland’s bench has been inconsistent. The former Lakers will play a part in the game at that stage.

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