If the NBA regular season had concluded back in April as initially scheduled, the Lakers likely would’ve bene squaring off against the Grizzlies in the first round of the playoffs.
That would’ve been a great matchup for them, being a veteran team with loads of playoff experience — as well as the best player in the world, LeBron James — going up against a young Grizzlies team just beginning to get their feet wet in big games.
But now it appears as if the Blazers — or possibly even the Suns — have a great chance of garnering the eight-seed, even if it takes a play-in game to do so. The Grizzlies are looking like the least likely opponent for the one-seed Lakers.
And if you ask Kyle Kuzma, he’s not really worried about the Blazers per se, but he does admit it will be a “tough matchup” for his Lakers squad.
He’s absolutely right. Damian Lillard has been cooking opposing point guards, scoring 51 and 61 points in his past two games. The Lakers don’t really have an answer for him defensively, without Avery Bradley on the floor. The Blazers also have a solid frontcourt, as well as veteran shooters CJ McCollum and Carmelo Anthony having the ability to drain jumpers from the perimeter. Watch out, Lakers.
