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Los Angeles Lakers: The path to the Finals with 1-16 playoff seeding

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 06: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers is guarded by Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the third quarter at Staples Center on March 06, 2020 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 conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 06: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers is guarded by Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the third quarter at Staples Center on March 06, 2020 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 conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

The Los Angeles Lakers could have a completely different path to the NBA Finals.

If all goes as planned, the NBA is going to resume its season in July at the Walt Disney World property in Orlando, Florida. The ‘bubble city’ idea that was previously theorized is seemingly going to come to fruition, with the league taking advantage of the vast amount of hotel housing to keep anyone coming in or out.

The complete details of the return have not been fully laid out and there are several different options that the league has. Players might want to have a regular season before the playoffs, or at least part of a regular season, but the league could be running out of time and simply jump into the playoffs after an extensive practice period.

Brian Windhorst said on ESPN that there is a good chance that the league just jumps into the playoffs without a regular-season and that there is the possibility of the league simply doing a seeded 16-team playoff instead of splitting the conferences (h/t Chris Grenham, Forbes Sports).

This is an idea that has been flirted with before and it would not be surprising to see it come to fruition. If it does, the Los Angeles Lakers‘ road to the NBA Finals changes dramatically.

We wanted to predict what the Lakers’ road to the Finals could look like. Of course, anything can happen in the other matchups in the playoffs, so part of this prediction is predicting what other teams would win their respective series as well.

Round 1: Los Angeles Lakers (2) vs. Brooklyn Nets (15)

Right away we would see the Los Angeles Lakers squaring off against an Eastern Conference team in the Brooklyn Nets. This really should be a series that the Lakers walk right through and sweeping the Nets, especially without having to travel all the way to Brooklyn, is absolutely doable.

Kyrie Irving had season-ending knee surgery and was already dealing with a shoulder injury back in February and Kevin Durant is coming off of his torn Achilles from the NBA Finals last season. The team could roll the dice with Durant, who could be able to return after a year of recovery, but it is highly, highly unlikely.

The Nets really have no reason to risk any potential reaggravation and rushing Durant or Irving in a season that is already the most peculiar in league history. Let the superstar duo heal up and they will get more time to recover if the league starts at a later date next season.

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