Los Angeles Lakers: Why the Raptors are the perfect second opponent

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - JULY 30: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers stands on the NBA logo against the LA Clippers during the second quarter of the game at The Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on July 30, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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 Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - JULY 30: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers stands on the NBA logo against the LA Clippers during the second quarter of the game at The Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on July 30, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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 Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
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(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers take on the Toronto Raptors after defeating the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Los Angeles Lakers helped welcome back meaningful NBA basketball on Thursday night as a part of a doubleheader against the Los Angeles Clippers. The NBA is officially back with games at Disney World in the Orlando bubble and with no positive coronavirus tests in the last two weeks, things are looking promising.

It is looking even more promising for the Lakers considering that they resumed their season with a win over their Western Conference foes. While the team was already essentially a lock for the first-seed in the West, this all but guaranteed that the Lakers will be the first seed.

The Lakers could go out and not play LeBron James and Anthony Davis another minute and they would be the first seed. They would have to lose out and the Clippers would have to win out to lose that position.

The rest of the games still do matter, though, as they will help the Lakers get up to speed and give Frank Vogel more of a sample size to base rotations off of. Vogel struggled with his rotations against the Clippers, so that is needed.

The first game after this win over the Clippers is against the defending champion Toronto Raptors, who for two specific reasons, are the perfect team for the Lakers to play second in this NBA restart.