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Los Angeles Lakers: Did we get a finals preview vs. Toronto Raptors?

By Kevin Germany

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 01: Fred VanVleet #23 of the Toronto Raptors passes the ball against LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half of an NBA basketball game at The Arena in the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 1, 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 Ashley Landis - Pool/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 01: Fred VanVleet #23 of the Toronto Raptors passes the ball against LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half of an NBA basketball game at The Arena in the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 1, 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 Ashley Landis - Pool/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Ashley Landis – Pool/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Ashley Landis – Pool/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

Defense wins this championship matchup

“Bronny buyin’ up Brentwood like he still in Akron; a Lot of Pain, A Lot of Passion (Not A Lot of Offense)” – Omérta by Raptors superfan Drake (with my edit)

The Toronto Raptors defeated the Los Angeles Lakers earlier this season, 113-104, without Kyle Lowry and Serge Ibaka. I will not bore you with the stats of that game. The Raptors just out-hustled the Lakers last night. Sometimes effort overcomes execution and analysis.

They are theoretically more versatile, so they can downshift more easily than can the Lakers. But the Lakers controlled the game when they moved Anthony Davis to center.

Any matchup in this series favors a defensive struggle. The Raptors can shoot; the Lakers apparently cannot. The Lakers can contain Pascal Siakam – it just requires more effort! Siakam can be knocked out of position in tight corridors because of his high dribble. Defenders such as Danny Green and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope can pressure him into dribbling a little bit lower than usual.

Kyle Lowry will be a problem given he can knock down three-pointers off the dribble. Lowry’s ferocious defense theoretically does not matter but the Raptors seem to double team everybody, so his direct matchup (say Danny Green) is less relevant than his matchup last year.

Of course, his matchup last year was Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry. Curry dominated the matchup as expected but had to work for everything, especially with his teammates Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant getting injured earlier this series. Lowry punished Curry on the offensive end with his strength and his shooting.

Who Wins in a Los Angeles Lakers-Toronto Raptors NBA Finals?

To me, championship experience matters in the playoffs. The Raptors have it as do the Lakers. I think this is the most likely matchup next to Lakers-Bucks. There is one difference: each of the Raptors players are unproven in their magnified roles; LeBron James and Danny Green have played their exact roles on championship teams before.

The Lakers win if Anthony Davis and LeBron punish the swarming Raptors defense. If he does not, the Raptors are the favorites.

Next. LeBron's defense versus the Clippers explained. dark

The Raptors are a tricky enough matchup where every game will be close, although the Lakers have the two best players on the floor by a long shot. The Raptors win two of those; the Lakers win four. The Lakers prove to be the superior team and win in this series.

Prediction: Los Angeles Lakers win 4-2

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