The Los Angeles Lakers were unable to repeat as NBA Champions as the Milwaukee Bucks won the 2021 NBA Championship less than 10 months after the Lakers fought through the Orlando Bubble to become the 2020 NBA Champions.
The Lakers fell short in the first round of the NBA Playoffs after Anthony Davis suffered an injury with the Lakers owning a 2-1 lead against the Phoenix Suns. The Lakers likely would have beaten Phoenix if they were fully healthy, but we will never know.
Phoenix went on to lose in the NBA Finals to the Bucks despite holding a 2-0 lead. It was believed to be the crowning moment for Giannis Antetokounmpo and now the Bucks are one of the favorites to win the title in 2022.
However, the Milwaukee Bucks are not on the Los Angeles Lakers level.
While the Bucks are definitely contenders, they should be considered a tier below the Lakers. The Lakers and Brooklyn Nets should be considered as the two teams on tier 1. If both teams stay healthy then that is the NBA Finals matchup without a doubt.
The Bucks occupy the next tier of teams and might even be alone on that tier. They are going to need more injury luck in order to repeat as champions.
Even if Giannis is the best player in the league, the Lakers are the better team. Let’s break down the three main reasons why that is the case.