Charles Barkley Berates the Los Angeles Lakers on ‘Inside the NBA’

The 2021 NBA playoffs are underway and the Los Angeles Lakers locked horns with the Phoenix Suns on Sunday night. After a phenomenal victory over the Warriors in the play-in tournament, the Lakers had all the momentum. They looked in great form and in fact emerged as the favorites in the series over the second-seeded Suns.

However, in Game 1 of the opening round, the purple and gold were handed a reality check by Chris Paul and co. In a low-scoring battle, the Suns came out on top, winning the game with a score of 99-90.

This led to many fans questioning whether the Lakers can defend their title or not.

Charles Barkley believes nobody is afraid of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Last season, LeBron James and Anthony Davis led the Lakers to their first NBA championship in a decade. They stomped most of their opponents and were crowned the NBA champions.

In the offseason, the franchise added more pieces to the core, and the team certainly improved. A common narrative was developed that the Lakers are the team to beat this season.

Despite that narrative, Chuck made a bold claim.

"“I don’t think that’s true. There’s a notion that they can just show up and they are going to win, nobody is afraid of them. Anthony Davis and LeBron, they haven’t played real basketball in months. … This is going to be an interesting series, but the Lakers aren’t playing well.”"

There is no doubt that the Lakers failed to bring out their A-game on the table in the first game of the series. They struggled to get their offense going which ultimately led to their demise. But there are still six games left in the series and anything can happen from this point on.

Should fans worry after the Los Angeles Lakers dropped their first game?

In short, no, there is no need to panic just yet. Remember, in the last postseason, the purple and gold made a name for themselves after winning the series in five games. During most of the battles, the team dropped their first game and then led to a complete turnaround in the latter stages.

Moreover, with AD and LeBron coming back from injuries, the team still has room for improvement. It is time for LeBron James and Anthony Davis to flip the switch and turn playoff mode.

Once the two superstars get back in the groove, the Lakers will have a real shot at winning this series and possibly defending their title.

But what are your thoughts on the team after their recent defeat? Do you believe they can make a comeback or is it already too late for the team? Feel free to share your views in the comments section below.