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Los Angeles Lakers: 4 predictions for 2021-22 you can take to the bank

By Addam Goldman

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MAY 15: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers talk on the court in the game against the Indiana Pacers 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 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers talk on the court in the game against the Indiana Pacers 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 Abbie Parr/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

Carmelo Anthony will quickly become a Los Angeles Lakers fan favorite

This exchange between Jim Braddock (Russell Crowe) and Joe Gould (Paul Giamatti) in “Cinderella Man,” following Braddock’s shocking knock out victory over Corn Griffin after being out of boxing for a half-decade, makes me think about Carmelo Anthony:

Joe Gould: “Where the hell did that come from?”

Jim Braddock: “I don’t know. When my hand was broke… I had to work down on the docks, and I had to use my left. So, What? No, that and luck. Sheer Irish luck.”

Joe Gould: “OH. Don’t give me that luck-of-the-Irish crap. No, sir. Lucky? That’s something you ain’t been in a long time, brother.”

Jim Braddock: “Everybody’s due”

Look, Carmelo Anthony is not Jim Braddock. He’s not having trouble keeping his electricity and heat on like the former boxing champ. But Anthony’s NBA career has been down for what seems like forever.

Carmelo Anthony spent his prime playing for a poorly constructed Knicks team that never came close to sniffing the eastern conference finals. And during 2012-2013, he had to deal with the entire world finding out his wife cheated on him with Kevin Garnett.

MORE: 5 recent players that you probably forgot were Lakers

In 2017, the Knicks traded Carmelo Anthony, 33, to Oklahoma City, and that’s when his career really plummeted. He played poorly for the Thunder next to Russell Westbrook and Paul George, and was predictably traded after the season to the Atlanta Hawks, where he was bought out and went to the Houston Rockets, struggled, almost fell out of the league, found himself on a bad Portland Trail Blazers team, and is now on the Los Angeles Lakers.

Carmelo Anthony is “due.”

The former Knick can’t play a lick of defense, but he’s still an excellent offensive weapon. He upped his three-point percentage to over 40 last season, and his mid-range game is devastating (45% from 10-16 feet).

Carmelo Anthony could close some games alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis in the frontcourt, two players who can help cover some of his mistakes on defense. Teams will have to focus on the Lakers dynamic duo (not to mention Russell Westbrook and possibly Kent Bazemore in the backcourt), giving Carmelo the chance to play the hero.

I predict Carmelo Anthony will hit a handful of momentum-shifting clutch shots, and Lakers fans will fall in love with him in 2021.

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