Los Angeles Lakers: Players who will shock casual NBA fans in the playoffs

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MAY 15: LeBron James #23 and Dennis Schroder #17 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrate after a play in the game against the Indiana Pacers during the first quarter at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on May 15, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MAY 15: LeBron James #23 and Dennis Schroder #17 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrate after a play in the game against the Indiana Pacers during the first quarter at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on May 15, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
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(Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers

LeBron James, for good reasons

It feels wrong to even say that LeBron James is going to shock people with his play in the NBA Playoffs. This is the second-greatest player of all time we are talking about, who has defied every rule about regressing with age thus far in his career.

Until that ankle injury. The high ankle sprain that LeBron suffered on March 20 has really taken a toll on him. It has been two months now and he is just now getting back to full activity as he has no more time to sit it out and be safe.

As LeBron himself said, he does not think he will ever be 100% again. Now, if he means prime LeBron then that is true, of course, he is not going to be 2013 LeBron again. But being last year’s LeBron that leads his team to the NBA Championship? That is definitely a possibility.

It is almost like LeBron is setting up his doubters to take the bait and then go out and average 25/10/10 in the playoffs. This is the first time in over a decade that fans can legitimately doubt him not making the NBA Finals and you know some are going to take that bait.

While LeBron’s NBA Finals streak was snapped in his first year as a Laker, the fact still remains that the last time he made the playoffs and did not make the NBA Finals was the last year of his first Cleveland stint in 2010.

The odds say that if LeBron James makes the playoffs he is going to make it to the NBA Finals. A lot of people seem to be writing the Lakers off, because of LeBron’s ankle, and he will yet again prove that he is the closest thing we will see to a superhuman.