The Lakers had a fantastic turnaround this season. They had a terrible start losing ten out of the first 12 games. Nobody would bet on the team to make the postseason. They did not make it the previous year, either. This year the team had no balance but several injury issues. Nobody could tell if the Lakers were actually a solid team to go all the way. However, the team found the balance after the February trades. Quality players came in, like Rui Hachimura, D’Angelo Russell, Jarred Vanderbilt, and so on. However, injuries kept killing the momentum of the Lakers.
They could not hold on to a streak but still were hanging in. However, when LeBron James got injured and missed a month’s schedule, it scared the fans. But Anthony Davis came to the rescue to help the Lakers make the postseason. D’Lo, AR, Hachimura, Schroder, Gabriel, and everybody joined the party to push the team forward to the playoffs. The Lakers finished 7th in the Western Conference, so they had to battle it out with the Timberwolves at the play-in round to reach the playoffs. The Purple and Gold brigade did it.
Magic Johnson Feels Former Team Can Beat The Grizzlies
The Lakers will fight against the Grizzlies in Memphis on Sunday for round 1 and game 1 of the playoffs. After all, they have been through, the fans hope that the Lakers will go all the way. But the Grizzlies are a formidable opponent. However, the legend and member of the American Dream Team, Magic Johnson, feels the Purple and Gold can beat the Grizzlies. He thinks LeBron James and Anthony Davis are capable of carrying the team all the way to the finals and winning it.
If the @Lakers are going to beat the Memphis Grizzlier they have to control the pace and the role players like Reaves, Schröder, D Lo, Beasley, Hachimura, and Troy Brown Jr. have to play great to help AD and LeBron. I’d also like to see Lonnie Walker play in the Memphis series.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) April 12, 2023
They did it in 2020 for the Lakers, then why not again in 2023? But Magic Johnson suggests they cannot do it alone. Both AD and King James will need the role players like Austin Reaves, D’Lo Russell, Rui Hachimura, and so on to support them to the best of their abilities. Also, Magic Johnson has added another player he wishes to see play in the series against the Grizzlies, that is Lonnie Walker IV. Anyway, legends like Magic, Shaq, and others have faith in their former franchise to win the coveted 18th title.
Lakers Look Up To LeBron James And Anthony Davis
The duo of James-Davis, who helped the Lakers win the 17th, have the responsibility to get the team to its 18th as well. Now can they do it is the question? Only time will tell if the LA side is able to go past the Grizzlies and even beyond that. Dillon Brooks of the Grizzlies has challenged the Lakers to beat them on their home court.
According to Brooks, “It will be a good test for us to beat the Los Angeles team to proceed further.” Only time will tell if the LA side can give an excellent reply to that. As they did to their former teammate Patrick Beverley. Meanwhile, the Lakers have shown real character to reach the playoffs from where they were at the beginning of the first half of the season.
