Los Angeles Lakers’ Eastern Conference threats:
Philadelphia 76ers:
The Philadelphia 76ers are a really good basketball team and Sixers fans have to love how this team matches up with just about every team in the NBA. The Los Angeles Lakers are not terribly mismatched against the 76ers, but I would argue that they present the toughest matchup in the entire league for LA.
Joel Embiid playing at an MVP level has really elevated this team to new heights. They are one of the few teams in the league who can keep up with the size of the Lakers and defend it as well. Ben Simmons is critical for this team’s defensive identity, especially against LA.
The Sixers also have a really good third option in Tobias Harris, who is playing well again this season and is matches up well against the Lakers with the focus on Embiid and Simmons. Throw in some shooters that can get hot in a playoff series and the Sixers are really dangerous.
Boston Celtics
This is the team that I think that a lesser chance of actually making the Finals than the Nets but if they do I think they are a bigger problem than Brooklyn. This is largely due to the fact that if they make the Finals they will be playing really good basketball and they have the horses to win it all.
Jayson Tatum is an overlooked superstar who, quite frankly, should probably be considered in the top 10 after this season. Jaylen Brown has taken his game way up this season and Kemba Walker as your third-best player is ideal.
Tristan Thompson provides size to keep Boston from getting overmatched and they have that really good, gritty sixth man in Marcus Smart. This is a team that, when firing on all cylinders, can be really dangerous to come up against.