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Why the Los Angeles Lakers should be the NBA Title favorites

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 06: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers attempts a shot on Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks with LeBron James #23 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: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers attempts a shot on Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks with LeBron James #23 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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Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers

1. The Los Angeles Lakers have far more NBA Title experience

Playoff experience has become so drawn out in the NBA that is might seem to have lost its value in the league. However, it absolutely is valuable and makes a difference and we have seen this happen time and time again.

While there are examples of a team with little playoff experience making the most noise, there is still some experience needed to make that leap. Although the Toronto Raptors did not have Finals experience, they did have tangible playoff experience before Kawhi Leonard came. The team made it to an Eastern Conference Finals and two Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Leonard’s title experience and leadership (along with some injury luck) pushed them over the top.

The Clippers and Bucks simply do not have the playoff experience that the Los Angeles Lakers have. LeBron James it the most experienced player in the league, Danny Green is a two-time champion, JaVale McGee is a two-time champion, Dwight Howard has been to the Finals and Rajon Rondo has won a championship and been to two Finals.

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There absolutely are counter-examples, such as Anthony Davis, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Kyle Kuzma, but that existing playoff experience is going to be extremely beneficial in helping these guys in what is going to be the most unique and unprecedented NBA Finals in league history.

The other teams simply do not have that same experience. Let’s break it down.

Clippers:

Kawhi Leonard has very valuable NBA Finals experience and to say otherwise would be asinine. However, that is where the Finals experience ends.

Paul George has lost in the first round of the playoffs in his last four playoff trips, Patrick Beverley has made it out of the first round once, Lou Williams has made it out of the first round twice and Montrezl Harrel has made it out of the first round once, but did not play a role on that Rockets team and Ivica Zubac has never won a playoff series.

Bucks:

The Bucks have gained valuable playoff experience together over the last few seasons, which is important and is something the Clippers and Lakers do not have, but still do not have any NBA Finals experience.

George Hill and Kyle Korver are the only two players with NBA Finals experience on the Bucks.

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