2023 NBA Playoffs: Two Elite Teams That Will Boom Or Bust
Updated: Sep 10, 2023
The Warriors and Lakers both have had moments where they have looked like the best team in the NBA, then followed up by looking like fringe contenders. The Warriors have been off most of the year, but they are clicking at the right time and are getting back Andrew Wiggins for the playoffs. The Lakers went from the 11th seed to the seventh seed after the trade deadline. How far can these teams make it in the playoffs?
Golden State Warriors
The Warriors have been a terrific home team but a horrible road team. The Warriors haven’t shown the same dominance from last year, but with their championship experience, the regular season is irrelevant for them. Steph Curry has not aged one bit and is still averaging 30 points per game on 50/40/90 shooting. Klay has had a nice bounce back averaging 21 points on 41% from three.
Steph and Klay are playing at a high level, but players like Jordan Poole and Jonathan Kuminga haven’t taken the leaps they were expected to. Poole has regressed in field goal percentage, three-point percentage, and free throw percentage. He had a rough year following last year where he looked like a star in the playoffs.
All that being said, the Warriors stayed afloat. Steph Curry missed about a month total this season with injuries, Wiggins has been gone for a large chunk of the year, and they still find themselves as the sixth seed. With their experience, veteran presence, and the fact that they have a top-seven player in Steph Curry, they absolutely can make a finals push.
The Warriors have the potential to upset the Kings. The Kings don’t have any experience and can’t be surely trusted to beat a team like the Warriors. The Warriors have the potential to make the finals, but the team who can most likely stop them is the Suns.
Los Angeles Lakers
After trading Russell Westbrook, the Lakers are 15-7 since the All-Star break. Anthony Davis has resurfaced as an elite presence averaging 26 points and 13 rebounds. Austin Reaves has emerged as a good number three scoring option with 13 points per game.
The Lakers have played like playoff contenders in the second part of the season, but they are still the seventh seed. Lebron James and Anthony Davis have become more injury prone and injuries might affect the Lakers a lot in the playoffs.
At the end of the day, the Lakers have both James and David healthy for the playoffs, which should give them a good chance. A first-round playoff series with the Grizzlies will be tough though. Given the Lakers unknowns with injuries, and a potential playoff schedule with the Grizzlies round one, Warriors/Kings round two, and the Suns in the Conference Finals, it’s unclear how far the Lakers can make it in the playoffs.
The health of Anthony Davis and Lebron James can either make the Lakers a potential Conference finalist or have them exit the playoffs in round one.
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