It has always been said that the important to the Playoffs in the nba It’s not so much the final ranking position, but the trend each team follows once the battle begins. watching this Los Angeles Lakers They are emerging as the most dangerous team for the postseason this year. A renewed franchise, with figures capable of making an impact on both sides of the court and complementing its two stars: LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
This season was not easy for Angeleno. Tension, bad results, changes, injuries… Too many things for a team that is always required to win. Those driven by Darwin Hamm have lived a real roller coaster In the six months that the Regular Season has lasted, but with only two days left and only one game to play, they still have options to go straight into the Playoffs. Here are the scripts.
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Although the risk of not qualifying Playoffs Because of its unpredictability play-in it is there, The Lakers have come a long, hard road to be among the 16 best teams in the NBA. And his I run they end in the latter 15 matches proves it.
The Californians come to the end of the campaign as the 4th team with the most wins in their last 15 appearances, recording the 4th best net score (+5.6) and 7th best defense and best offense. Its trend is up, while others in the West like it Nuggets, Suns or Kings They have dropped significantly in level. How important is the momentum before the playoffs?
In 2022, the Mavs won 11 of their last 15 games, later reaching the Conference Finals. On the other hand, the Pelicans finished with the 6th best net score from the West and were close to knocking off the favorite Suns, but also the Raptors (+6.2) with the Sixers. Not to mention Boston’s surge, which finished the run at +14.6 and made it all the way to the NBA Finals.
So, Why is it mentioned here that the Lakers can be so dangerous ahead of the Playoffs? It’s time to explain.
Defense is key in the playoffs
even though the Stroke it is the easiest to analyze, the one that quickly catches the eye and seems to define the outcome of a match, Defense is the real key to success in today’s NBA. Without further ado, the three best attacks of the past Playoffs (Pelicans, Nets and Suns) were shut out inside First Round or suffered too much. A similar case when we take a look at last year’s best two in the Regular Phase (Jazz and Hawks), who did not make it past the first round with a low level of competition.
In contrast, The top three defenses of the 2022 postseason (Celtics, Heat and Bucks) reached the Conference Finals or, in Milwaukee’s case, they fell in the seventh at the hands of another top defense (Boston). That’s a trend that’s continued since 2019, and that’s in line with the fact that the best defenses go the furthest in the Playoffs. That is, the attack is in a position of lesser importance compared to the work behind. In fact, the Warriors’ case is the exception that proves the rule.
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The Lakers’ regular season defensive stats are somewhat misleading. Their 2-10 start, the absence of Anthony Davis and all the problems they have faced make it difficult to get data on a world level. Hence the importance of looking at the aforementioned trend.
After they did all the transfers Lakers have the second-best defense in the NBA (110.8), essentially tied with the Celtics (110.6). A fact that reflects the high level the Angels leave on the field in this final quarter of the season.
Clutch hazard
Defensive performance wasn’t the only reason to explain the danger the Lakers face in the playoffs, as their performance in clutch It was just as impressive.
The Lakers they have it 6th best clutch defense since deadline, having won 8 of their 13 engagements. A job that makes the Californians the third best team in terms of efficiency (+31.5), surpassed only by the 76ers and Hornets during the same period.
However, it all stems from his own Stroke in closings, third best, consequence of the great relationship they have LeBron James, Dennis Schroder and Austin Reaves. The three of them complement each other very well and know how to get to close finals. The only downside was the success of other key figures such as Anthony Davis (38.9%) and D’Angelo Russell (25%).
If complementary pieces like Brown, Hachimura, or Beasley manage to triple their numbers slightly, it wouldn’t be out of the question to see the Lakers surprise.
Nothing to prove, everything to achieve
According to the information it offers ESPN, the Lakers are the sixth team in history to start with a 2-10 record and finish with a winning record. A statistical anecdote showing the evolution of the team and above all how successful the changes were. To think in January that the Angels could finish with a positive balance was a stretch to believe, almost as much as their presence in the Play-In.
With both scenarios mathematically assured, The Lakers have exceeded their goals in a season that is not easy. Before they started the campaign, the best scenario one could imagine would be that they go into Play-In in extremis, which they have far surpassed.
The best of the current frame of the Los Angeles team is found in the atmosphere that breathes in the locker room.
“Can you believe we’re going to finish this season over 50%? After everything that’s happened this season?”, LeBron James talked about a conversation with Anthony Davis after the Suns’ win on Friday. “We turned that around. And it being the regular season, obviously, there’s a lot more at stake. Do you know we will finish some games over 50%? It’s wonderful”.
A sentiment shared by Darvin Ham.
“I’m definitely happy that we’ve been able to fight through the adversity and try to find the right pieces that fit together so we can move forward.”the Lakers coach commented.
Illusion is one of the great engines of this sport, what is commonly called chemistry, and the Lakers have put together all the pieces for a Playoffs where anything is possible for them.
The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of the NBA or its organizations.
