Would we have beaten the Wolves or OKC in the first round?

CandyCanes

Or would it have been the same outcome anyway?
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ocho · Retired Number Joined: 24 May 2005 Posts: 54020

Maybe OKC but not Minnesota.
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lakersfever714 · Franchise Player Joined: 05 Jan 2016 Posts: 12067

Here's my "could have been" second scenario had Zion not gotten hurt and the Pels completed the amazing comeback.

Play-in: Lakers blow out win over Monk-less Kings
Round 1: 4-1 over OKC
Round 2: 4-2 over Mavs
WCF: 4-3 over Wolves
NBA Finals: 4-2 over a g-league team
Championship #18. Yippee!!

The Lakers have shown during the regular season that they could hang with or beat these teams. They're 0-4 against Denver in the regular season and they're 0-3 against them now so regular seasons do tell something.

Wolves would take out Denver in round 2 because Wolves have the size to match up with Denver's size. Wolves 4-3 over Denver.
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Japago · Star Player Joined: 21 Jun 2018 Posts: 1477

No. I think those teams are much better than the injured Grizzlies and old GSW were last season.

MIN is a bad match-up when healthy anyway with all their size.

The Lakers would have had a chance against OKC's inexperience, but they're still a much better team than the Lakers overall that also has some size advantages on the Lakers. They were 10 games better than the Lakers for a reason.

I just don't understand this thought of the Lakers being some kind of contender being held back by only the Nuggets.

Their run last year was the result of them getting a REALLY easy draw in the playoffs.

You can make the conference finals without being a contender. I don't think the Mavericks were a contender when the made in 2 years ago and I remember a Dame team that made the WCF that I also never considered a contender.

rybee · Star Player Joined: 15 Dec 2011 Posts: 9988

OKC yes.

Minnesota would be hard, even though AD kills Gobert every matchup, they have a bunch of wing defenders like McDaniels and Edwards to put on Bron.

LakersRGolden · Posted: Sat Apr 27, 2024 9:00 pm Post subject:

The bigger question is would someone take Denver out before we ran into them later.

Now / Later. Is there some moral victory in ducking Denver just to lose to them later?

I Bleed P&G · Starting Rotation Joined: 01 Dec 2015 Posts: 879

Shoulda Coulda Woulda Eastwood

levon · Franchise Player Joined: 11 Oct 2016 Posts: 10850

OKC no doubt. Wolves are really good.

MJST · Retired Number Joined: 06 Jul 2014 Posts: 26823

OKC I think we could have beaten.

But I think the reality is this. We need to be able to beat Denver if we want to stand a chance at beating the Timberwolves. Because it's them and Denver that are the gatekeepers to the Finals this season.
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mad55557777 · Franchise Player Joined: 29 Jun 2005 Posts: 23673

the wolves might run the league soon with the way ANT is growing.
Denver is going to have some tough decisions to make this summer. Their bill keep going up, and I don’t think they can keep their core together for much longer

Theseus · Franchise Player Joined: 15 Dec 2007 Posts: 14319

Finally I get to feed my delusions, we'd beat everybody and get that great value brand IST trophy; the nba championship.

ducasse · Star Player Joined: 05 Sep 2002 Posts: 8382

quartzcharm · Starting Rotation Joined: 30 Mar 2016 Posts: 606

OKC yes. Minnesota no.