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Los Angeles Lakers: Round-by-round predictions for the 2020 NBA Playoffs

By Ed Schrenzel

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - JULY 30: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the LA Clippers during the third 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 looks on against the LA Clippers during the third 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 Ashley Landis-Pool/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Ashley Landis-Pool/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

The next time we see the Los Angeles Lakers it will be in the NBA Playoffs.

The NBA has enjoyed unqualified success in the Orlando bubble. Close, exciting games were the norm. New stars emerged, including T.J. Warren, Michael Porter Jr. and Caris LeVert. Several teams changed their positions, setting up intriguing and often compelling playoff match-ups.

The postseason promises to be tremendously competitive and entertaining. Obviously, home-court advantage will not exist, and unfortunately, fans will be unable to see the action in person, but that should translate to high television viewership.

Here are my round-by-round predictions for the 2020 NBA Playoffs.

Western Conference, Round 1

  • Lakers vs Blazers

Portland is a much-improved team thanks in large part to the return of 7-foot center Jusuf Nurkic. They have one of the league’s best three-point-shooting backcourts with marksmen Damian Lillard (40%), CJ McCollum (38%) and Gary Trent Jr. (42%) and support from veteran Carmelo Anthony (38.5%).

This is the match-up the Los Angeles Lakers hoped to avoid. The Blazers won seven of nine bubble games and will provide a much bigger challenge than an 8-seed normally would to a top seed. LA has little room for error. The Los Angeles Lakers must rev up their intensity and their efficiency from the opening tap.

However, like most teams, the Blazers have match-up problems against both Anthony Davis and LeBron James. And the Lakers should control the paint enough to escape an upset.

The pick: Lakers in 6

  • Clippers vs Mavericks

The NBA hiatus did wonders for Paul George, giving him additional time to recover from off-season shoulder surgery. He combines with Kawhi Leonard to form a tremendous one-two punch for the Clips.

The Mavs counter with the league’s best Euro duo in Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis. The Clippers are likely the deepest team in the NBA, but Dallas isn’t too far behind them. They won’t go gently into the night and will give LA a good battle. but the Clippers superior overall talent should prevail.

The pick: Clippers in 6

  • Nuggets vs Jazz

This should be an enjoyable series between two teams from neighboring states, each with a recent history of playoff under-achievement.

Denver is led by its all-NBA center, Nikola Jokic, and a host of up-and-coming young players. Most notable is point guard Jamal Murray, but the emerging star is 6-10 Michael Porter Jr, who is now injury-free and posted outstanding stats in the Orlando bubble: 26 points, 9 rebounds and 48% three-point shooting.

Utah depends on the offense of Donovan Mitchell and the defense of Rudy Gobert. Despite the return of point guard Mike Conley, the Jazz struggled in Orlando, winning just three games and dropping from fourth place to sixth.

Denver’s bubble record wasn’t any better, but coach Mike Malone spread minutes around liberally. The Nuggets look ready to easily advance

The pick: Nuggets in 5

  • Rockets vs Thunder

Russell Westbrook will be sidelined for at least a few games with a strained quad, which is bad news for Houston. Eric Gordon is supposed to return, but who knows how effective he’ll be. So the pressure on James Harden will be greater than ever.

Harden had another outstanding year, but in each of the last four years his playoff stats have decreased compared to his regular-season performance in points scored, shooting percentage and three-point percentage. The Rockets can’t afford a similar drop-off this year.

OKC surprised many this year who thought they might struggle to make the playoffs. They feature a balanced attack with four players averaging between 17.6 and 19.1 points per game. The quarterback of their attack, Chris Paul, who was traded for Westbrook last off-season, has historically increased his scoring in the postseason.

This should be the most competitive first-round series.

The pick: Thunder in 7

Eastern Conference, Round 1

  • Bucks vs Magic

Milwaukee has the best record in the NBA while Orlando has the worst record of any playoff qualifier. Enough said. Don’t expect an upset here. It’s much more likely that the Bucks will have their brooms ready for a sweep.

The pick: Bucks in 4

  • Raptors vs Nets

These were two of the more surprising teams in the NBA. After Toronto won the title last season and then lost star Kawhi Leonard in free agency, many expected them to tumble in the standings.

Instead, they finished second in the East behind veteran Kyle Lowry and new all-star Pascal Siakam and perhaps the best defense in the league.

Brooklyn signed star free agents Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in the offseason. But Durant is still recuperating from a torn Achilles tendon and has yet to suit up for the Nets, while Irving was limited by his own injury to just 20 games.

But minus both stars in the bubble along with second-leading scorer Spencer Dinwiddie, Brooklyn still won five of their eight games and nearly eliminated Portland in the last game for both teams. Caris LeVert became the new go-to man, and they will depend on him to carry the load in the playoffs.

The Nets play hard and might have upset some other team. But the Raptors will match their effort and have a more talented roster.

The pick: Raptors in 6

  • Celtics vs 76ers

This could have been a classic match-up between two long-term rivals. But Philadelphia’s two best players are injured. Ben Simmons will likely miss the rest of the season because he had recent knee surgery while Joel Embiid is expected to play although he has suffered both wrist and ankle injuries.

For Boston, Kemba Walker says his knee is feeling much better, so he joins teammates Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Gordon Hayward as 20-point threats. The Celtics should easily advance.

The pick: Celtics in 5

  • Heat vs Pacers

The 4 and 5 seeded teams are often separated by the thinnest of margins, and that’s the case here.

Jimmy Butler leads Miami, which features a balanced attack with seven players averaging double-digit points. Five players also shoot 39% or better from behind the arc, including Duncan Robinson and Jae Crowder at 45% and two bigs, Kelly Olynyk and Meyers Leonard, at 41% each.

Indiana, meanwhile, will probably be without Domantas Sabonis due to a foot injury, but welcomed back star Victor Oladipo in Orlando. And TJ Warren, a career 15 points per game scorer, erupted for a 53-point game and a 31 PPG average in the bubble.

This series figures to be very close, and either team could win it.

The pick: Heat in 7

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