While the Los Angeles Lakers are trying to rediscover themselves and prove they’re a playoff team, the Golden State Warriors may be getting their mojo back.
The defending NBA champs started the season 3-7, and some thought that they were done and that their dynasty was over. But they’ve won 11 of their last 17 games and have been over .500 for most of December.
On Saturday, Golden State made a big statement by defeating the Boston Celtics, 123-107, in an NBA Finals rematch.
Before the tip of that contest, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith asked Draymond Green if he was concerned about anyone in the Western Conference, and although he said no, he also gave the Lakers a compliment in the process.
"I'm not concerned about anybody in the West. I think there are good teams that you have to fear… Phoenix is one of those teams. I've been telling everybody for two years: I'm never counting the Lakers out… I know if we play our A game, nobody is beating us."
—Draymond Green pic.twitter.com/dzpO1F2wXk
— 𝙏𝙖𝙡𝙠𝙞𝙣’ 𝙉𝘽𝘼 (@_Talkin_NBA) December 11, 2022
The Lakers just went 3-3 on a six-game Eastern Conference road trip that began with an impressive 133-129 upset of the Milwaukee Bucks. Had Anthony Davis and LeBron James not missed time during this trip, L.A. could’ve gone 4-2 instead of 3-3.
The team now heads home with a short but tough stretch ahead that begins with the Boston Celtics on Tuesday and continues with the Denver Nuggets on Friday. The Lakers will then visit the Phoenix Suns on Dec. 19 before taking on Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks on Christmas Day.
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