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Los Angeles Lakers: Why the play-in could be a blessing in disguise

By Jason Reed

MIAMI, FL - APRIL 08: Head Coach Frank Vogel of the Los Angeles Lakers talks to his team during a timeout in the first half of the game against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena on April 8, 2021 in Miami, 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 Eric Espada/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - APRIL 08: Head Coach Frank Vogel of the Los Angeles Lakers talks to his team during a timeout in the first half of the game against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena on April 8, 2021 in Miami, 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 Eric Espada/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

1. The first-round matchup is easier for the Los Angeles Lakers as a seventh/eighth seed

It might not make sense on paper, but it would actually be easier for the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the playoffs if they have to take on the Utah Jazz or Phoenix Suns. As we saw Sunday night against the Suns, the Lakers matchup really well with Phoenix, especially when healthy.

Phoenix has been great thus far but they have virtually no playoff experience outside of Chris Paul and Jae Crowder and it is a franchise that has not won a playoff series in a decade. Plus, Phoenix’s frontcourt matches up horrendously against a healthy Lakers team. This is the nightmare matchup that Phoenix does not want in round one.

Utah is a tougher challenge but they also are a team that the Lakers can get past. Not only do the Lakers have more starpower than Utah, but Anthony Davis has torched Rudy Gobert in the past and the role players in Utah are not great defensively.

We see it every year in the playoffs. A really good regular season team with great depth does not have quite the same impact when the game slows down and the defensive flaws are exposed. The Lakers would expose the defense of Jordan Clarkson, Donovan Mitchell and the rest of the backcourt.

The alternative would likely be the Los Angeles Clippers in round one, which is the worst-case scenario for the Lakers. The Lakers are likely going to have to play the Clippers anyway but it would benefit the Lakers to get one full playoff round under their belt to get into a rhythm than getting thrown into the fire against the Clippers.

I know, it is a bad thing to say something positive about the Clippers on a Lakers site but if it isn’t the Lakers coming out of the West then it will probably be the Clippers, Playoff P aside.

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