Los Angeles Lakers: 3 bold predictions for series vs. Phoenix Suns

The stage has been set for the first round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs. After defeating the Golden State Warriors in the play-in tournament, the Los Angeles Lakers take on the Phoenix Suns as the seventh seed in the first round.

Despite being the seventh seed, the Lakers are still the favorites to represent the Western Conference in the NBA Finals. That happens when you have LeBron James and Anthony Davis together on the same team.

The Suns have to be bummed out that they have to face a team like the Lakers after a playoff layoff of over a decade, especially considering the matchup.

This is just the first step in defending the NBA Championship for the Lakers. Here are three bold predictions for this matchup.

1. The Los Angeles Lakers win in five games

I know, the Phoenix Suns were the second-best team in the Western Conference and have been playing really solid basketball. But as broken down in the article linked above, they simply do not have a good matchup in this game.

Expanding from that, the Lakers have the best defense in the league and the Suns have played below-average defense since the All-Star Break.

This has been a great feel-good season for the Suns but the Lakers are going to take them down in only five games. They will split the first two games in Phoenix, the Lakers will win both at the Staples Center and then complete the gentleman’s sweep in Phoneix.

Now here are two more bold predictions that will contribute to the 4-1 series win for the purple and gold.