Put sports commentator Colin Cowherd in the same category as Nick Young when it comes to whether the Los Angeles Lakers could beat the Denver Nuggets in the playoffs.
The Lakers are in 11th place in the Western Conference and are without LeBron James, who has a right foot tendon injury, and D’Angelo Russell, who has a sprained ankle. The team is one game behind the New Orleans Pelicans, who are in 10th place.
Although L.A. wants to move all the way to sixth place and avoid the play-in tournament, the most likely scenario by far is L.A. participating in the play-in tournament.
That could set up a first-round postseason matchup with the Nuggets, who have a five-game lead in the conference and will likely be the top seed.
Cowherd explained the Lakers would have more and better strengths than Denver would, and that would give them a great shot at winning (h/t Lakers Daily).
Would you take a healthy Lakers or healthy Nuggets in the playoffs?@ColinCowherd and @_JasonLT discuss pic.twitter.com/n5Kwg1pxtw
— The Volume (@TheVolumeSports) March 2, 2023
“If they were healthy, I’d pick the Lakers,” Cowherd said. “I don’t trust Denver in the West. … If LeBron and A.D. (Anthony Davis) were healthy, I would have the two — I know (Nikola) Jokic will win the MVP, but I would have the best defensive player. The best ball-handler of those three is LeBron. The best physical presence is LeBron. The best defensive player in Anthony Davis. … Playoff basketball is about being great at stuff. … It’s not about depth. It’s not about plaques. It’s not about MVPs. The Lakers, when A.D. and LeBron are healthy, they have things they’re great at.”
Even though Denver has a stellar 44-19 record, there are plenty of people who don’t fully believe they’re the favorites to reach the NBA Finals. Right now, with how the Western Conference is set up, there may be no real favorite, not even the Phoenix Suns with Kevin Durant.
If the Lakers somehow find a way to continue to build momentum while James is out, and if he returns healthy soon enough, that situation could very well open things up for them to surprise people this spring.
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