With the addition of LeBron James, Stephen Curry is looking forward to playing the Los Angeles Lakers next season.
The Los Angeles Lakers were able to change the landscape of the NBA when they signed LeBron James this offseason. Getting the best player in the world instantly makes them a much better team, but it also will put a target on their back.
With the Miami Heat and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference, James’ teams have been dominant. However, coming to the Western Conference, the competition is much greater to reach the NBA Finals.
James, of course, knows this, as he will likely be having to face the Golden State Warriors in the playoffs prior to making the NBA Finals once again. James and the Warriors are no strangers to one another, as they have faced off in four straight NBA Finals. While that streak will end, James very well could see them in the playoffs this season.
Recently, Warriors guard, Stephen Curry, spoke to Janie McCauley of the Associated Press about looking forward to playing James and the Lakers.
"“And a whole new-look Laker team with some of the young kids. It should be fun, the Bay Area and L.A. and the whole thing,” Curry said Monday in a sit-down with The Associated Press while hosting his annual elite camp at Ultimate Fieldhouse. “When I first got into the league Oracle would be buzzing any time the Lakers came in. There probably will be a revolution of Laker fans that are going to try to creep in but I hope Bay Area and Dub Nation we keep control of that competition because we’re on top right now.”"
Adding James to the Western Conference instantly will make a three-peat for the Warriors more difficult. After just getting past the Houston Rockets last season, the Warriors will now have to contend with them and James potentially in a playoff series in order to make it back to the Finals.
While adding James to the Lakers will propel them into the playoffs most likely, dethroning the Warriors will be no easy task. The Warriors still have their All-Star lineup with Curry, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. Also, they added DeMarcus Cousins in free agency this offseason. If healthy and close to what he was, the Warriors could be even better.
With James coming out West, the matchups with the Warriors will surely be fun to watch. Furthermore, the rivalry between James and the Warriors will likely grow now that he is in the Western Conference.