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3 reasons why the Los Angeles Lakers should want Denver in round 1

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 01: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets handles the ball against Ivica Zubac #40 of the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on April 01, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 01: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets handles the ball against Ivica Zubac #40 of the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on April 01, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Meg Oliphant/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

The Los Angeles Lakers are currently the fifth seed in the Western Conference with a 35-23 record. The team is expected to get Anthony Davis back on Thursday and is only three games behind the fourth-seeded Denver Nuggets. The Lakers are also three games ahead of the sixth-seeded Portland Trail Blazers.

The Lakers are 5.5 games behind the third-seeded Clippers, so the fourth seed is the highest that the Lakers could realistically go. This essentially locks in a first-round matchup between the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers.

A repeat of last year’s Western Conference Finals, this is exactly the first-round series the Lakers should be hoping for. Before, Denver appeared to be a huge threat and a team to stay away from. Now, the Nuggets are the ideal first-round opponent.

Why the Denver Nuggets are the perfect first-round opponent for the Los Angeles Lakers:

1. Jamal Murray’s injury

It is a terrible thing for basketball as Jamal Murray is one of the most exciting young players in the league. Murray tore his ACL earlier this month against the Golden State Warriors and while the Nuggets are still winning games, it significantly hurts the team’s chances in the NBA Playoffs.

Starpower wins championships and it is hard to see the Nuggets making another deep run when their second-best player is out; especially when that second-best player is the one who got red-hot last year to allow the team to go on a deep run.

The Nuggets are the fourth seed because of strong play from Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic, but without Murray, the team probably has the talent of a sixth or seventh seed, even with Jokic.

What about Jokic? He could still make some noise against the Los Angeles Lakers, right?

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