The Lakers are a year away. Or are they…?
The West is, without a doubt (again), the favorite to win the NBA Finals in 2018-19. Whichever team gets out of the West will have been through the wringer. The only question: Can anyone top the Warriors?
Let’s see.
1. Warriors: Easy pick. They would be the heavy favorite even if they didn’t add an All-NBA center.
2. Rockets: I think they’re not as good this year, but not enough of a fall-off to keep them from winning 58 games.
3. Jazz: I think the Jazz have what it takes to be a threat in the West. Gobert may very well win Defensive Player of the Year. Mitchell is back and ready for another run. Ingles, Rubio, Crowder, Favors, and the rest of the cast have the ability to push for the top.
4. Thunder: With Russ out for the start of the year, I believe this team will get out of the gate slowly. But once they get up and running, OKC will be a solid team. George is an All-Star, Adams is a real talent, and with guys like Noel and Schroder coming off the bench, I think they have what it takes.
5. Nuggets: Denver has a good all-around team, but they just don’t have what it takes to be a real threat. Jokic, Murray, and Harris will be good enough to get the Nuggets to the playoffs, but I don’t see how this team, as is, can make a run.
6. Lakers: LeBron is a year, maybe two, away from being where he wants to be in LA. The gap? LAL needs one more star to have a shot. As for now, they’ll move forward with what they have. Rondo, Stephenson, and McGee are great additions to a young core of Lonzo, Kuzma, Ingram, and Hart. When you throw in the best player in the world, I see this team making waves this season.
7. Pelicans: Anthony Davis is a top-5 player. He has another year under his belt and gets help from guys like Holiday, Moore, and Randle. The combo will propel NO back to the playoffs and make them a contender.
8. Spurs: I can’t bet against Pop and the Spurs until they give me a reason. Yes, they’re getting older and losing Leonard hasn’t been easy, but they got through last year and–with the addition of DeRozan–they should be back in the playoffs.
How will the West settle in the playoffs?
First Round
Warriors-Spurs: I think the Warriors may struggle early in this series but, ultimately, they will kick it into gear as they always do. Warriors in 5
Rockets-Pelicans: Davis will have to dominate if NO has any chance of winning. The problem: I don’t see them having the guys to match up with Harden and Paul. Having Melo coming off the bench just makes things more difficult. Rockets in 6
Jazz-Lakers: The Jazz are talented, but I can’t bet against LeBron. By playoff time, LAL will have gelled. Lakers in 7
Thunder-Nuggets: With the Warriors in their sights, Russ and company will be ready to go. They are more talented than Denver and the Adams-Jokic matchup will be the key in this series. Thunder in 6
Semi-Finals
Warriors-Thunder: Russ can only do so much. Assuming he’s back to his former self, Boogie will outplay Adams and make this series about guards and wings. I think Russ will make it interesting, but nobody will be able to guard Durant. Yes, it’s a new year, but with the same result. Warriors in 6
Rockets-Lakers: LeBron will take over the series and put up crazy numbers as usual. But, still, I don’t know if this team has what it takes to beat Houston. To win LAL will need great play out of Ball and Kuzma. Stephenson will need to be classic Lance and get to Harden. Playoff Rondo will need to be out in full force. If all of that happens, I think this Lakers team has the depth–and just enough talent–to get over a Rocket team that got worse this offseason. For one thing, an aging Melo doesn’t have much left. Lakers in 7
Finals
Yes, it will be exciting and newsworthy, that is, LeBron taking on the Warriors in the conference finals. It’s a different look for the West, but the outcome will be the same.
The Warriors are flat out special. And questions about Durant, Green, and Klay moving on–each to be #1 man on different teams, respectively, won’t stop Golden State from dominating the West again. Besides, to get here LAL will have to survive a very tough 14-game stretch. I just don’t see any way that the Lakers can do it.
Taking the Lakers over the Rockets was a roll of the dice. Picking them over the Warriors is beyond long odds.
Warriors in 6
