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Los Angeles Lakers: Breaking down playoff series vs. the longshots

By Kevin Germany

CLEVELAND, OHIO - MARCH 08: Head coach Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs watches the scoreboard during the first half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on March 08, 2020 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO - MARCH 08: Head coach Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs watches the scoreboard during the first half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on March 08, 2020 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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Los Angeles Lakers
Kobe Bryant and Luke Walton of the Los Angeles Lakers (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Los Angeles Lakers vs Sacramento Kings: Luke Walton’s Revenge

The old Los Angeles Lakers coach was Luke Walton; the new Kings coach is Luke Walton.

Say what you want about Walton as a coach, he was the fall guy when the Lakers missed the playoffs. Walton and the Kings clearly would have something to prove in this series. The sample size is fairly small, as the Lakers and Kings only played twice this season.

The Kings played them tough in the Staples Center earlier this season without De’Aaron Fox, only losing in the closing seconds. The Lakers won easily in the return game in Sacramento with Fox back.

This series will be like the second game. The Kings are not at all a threat. Buddy Hield and Fox are the Kings leading scorers. The Lakers defenders match up with them well. Danny Green is the ideal wing defender for Hield. Fox is tougher to guard with the absence of Avery Bradley and Rajon Rondo, but his three-point shooting fell off a cliff from last season (37.1%) to this one (30.7%).

A longer defender such as Kentavious Caldwell-Pope or Alex Caruso can go under all pick-and-rolls involving Fox. If Fox gets a head start, Javale McGee and Anthony Davis will be waiting for him at the basket.

The Kings do not have enough shooting or playmaking to render McGee or Dwight Howard unplayable. This makes it next to impossible to score in the half-court. The only chance the Kings have of making it competitive is if they can run like last year.

The Lakers are last in transition defense, so there is hope. But even if this happens the Kings would probably lose 125-110 instead of 115-95 each game. They cannot stop the Lakers at all. I think this would be an easy sweep.

Prediction: Los Angeles Lakers win 4-0

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