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3 issues that could keep the Los Angeles Lakers from the NBA Finals

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 26: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers works out prior to a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Staples Center on March 26, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 26: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers works out prior to a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Staples Center on March 26, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

3. The Los Angeles Lakers’ competition in the Western Conference is much tougher

The Los Angeles Lakers did not play the toughest teams in the NBA Playoffs last season, let’s be honest. Heck, the best team that the Lakers might have played was in the first round against the red-hot Portland Trail Blazers.

The Blazers were hot but the talent disparity between them and the Lakers was rather large, especially with the injuries that the Blazers were dealing with.

Then they faced the Houston Rockets, who were months away from imploding and seeing both of their star players. Even then, the Rockets were in the midst of the micro-ball experiment and it just was not going to work against the Lakers.

Then the team got the Denver Nuggets, who were hot and just came back from a 3-1 deficit against the Clippers. But let’s be honest with ourselves, we were all much happier to see Denver in the Western Conference Finals than the Clippers. The same can be said about getting the banged-up Miami Heat in the NBA Finals.

The Western Conference is tougher this year. The Clippers are still the same team, that being said, they are one typical Paul George playoff meltdown away from losing a series, so that is always in play.

The Nuggets have gotten one year better, match up great against Montrezl Harrell, and added Aaron Gordon, who has a similar impact on the team as Jerami Grant did last year. The Phoenix Suns are talented and gritty, the Utah Jazz are beating just about everybody and the Dallas Mavericks have Luka Doncic, who is always a threat in the playoffs.

Portland is the same team but is hoping to be healthy once the playoffs start and there is even the possibility of having to face Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors. There is so much talent in the West and the Lakers are not going to benefit from the situation as much as they did last season.

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Can they overcome all of these teams? Absolutely. But if LeBron James and Anthony Davis are not 100% and the role players are still struggling then it is hard to see them doing so.

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