Lakers Weekly Roundup #16: Playoffs 1st Round Preview Matchups

Would you look at this week's matchups? We have some possible previews here in the first round of the playoffs. The Lakers are sitting pretty on top of the #1 seed in the West. As for the #8 seed, it's a four-way race and two of them are featured here this week: the New Orleans Pelicans and the Memphis Grizzlies. Both teams are headlined by two standout rookies in Zion Williamson of the Pelicans and Ja Morant of the Grizzlies. Though the Lakers had the upper hand in the regular season series so far, it's highly likely the Lakers will see either one of these teams in the playoffs. The Lakers have rode high in the past month of February. Let's see how they fare heading as March is here and the playoff push gets even more intense.

02/25: vs. New Orleans 109-118 [W] (44-12)

It was long overdue to finally see a 'Bron vs. Zion marquee matchup! The standout rookie from Duke had a solid outing in the preseason before a meniscus injury pushed back his anticipated NBA debut. Since his debut at the beginning of the year, he's been as advertised and found himself back in the R.O.T.Y. (Rookie of the Year) race when it all seemed like Ja Morant from Memphis was running away with it. Zion Williamson's hype compared to that of LeBron James and it was going to be quite the matchup.

But, not once this game was LeBron assigned to defend Zion. However, both put on quite the show. Zion racked up 29 points and "wowed" the Staples Center crowd with his thunderous power dunks. But LeBron shined brighter as he did throughout his 17 years, dropping a season high 40 points. The highlight of the night was when he baptized poor Josh Hart. That was not only the noteworthy highlight of the game. The other one? The Carushow with the vicious block on Lonzo Ball and taking over in the 4th quarter. It was a game of runs from start to finish, but the Lakers came out on top and once again denying Zo, B.I., and Josh Hart sweet revenge. As for AD, the 'Brow had an off night shooting against his former team, but still lead the "SWAT" team with 6 blocks.

02/27: @ Golden State 116-86 [W] (45-12)

https://www.instagram.com/p/B9Hd6nrJnYH/

Would you look at the link that I just put up? I was at this game! This one of the perks if you're working in The City like I am. But luckily, the Lakers had one more trip to SF and I didn't miss out on an opportunity for this beauty of a game. It was my first live NBA game as well.

Now, time to talk about this game. The last time the Lakers and Warriors met at Chase Center, the Dubs gave the LakeShow a run for their money. So, this spelled "trap game" for the Lakers. To further escalate this, LeBron was ruled out with a sore groin and the last time they played without LeBron, the Lakers got blown out. However, this ain't the Denver Nuggets they were playing. The Lakers were playing an injury-riddled Warriors team with a roster consisting of rookies and G-Leaguers.

To give the Warriors credit, they did hang around in the first half sans Draymond Green getting tossed out early in the game. I got that on video and I was laughing my butt off much to the dismay of a couple of Dub Nation fans around me. But, by the 3rd quarter, the onslaught commenced. It's an encouraging sign when Anthony Davis doesn't have to play 30+ mins and carry the team without LeBron. Rajon Rondo came alive in that 3rd quarter and set the tone with his aggressive play. Playoff Rondo was alive this game. Kyle Kuzma stepped up with 18 points. He took over in that 2nd quarter. Kuz attacked the Warriors' defense all game long and they didn't have an answer once he spins his way to the basket. Chase Center turned into North Staples Center this game. It was fun to experience the Purple and Gold takeover in an opposition's building.

02/29: @ Memphis 88-105 [L] (45-13)

Not a way you want to end a spectacular month of February Lakers basketball. However, give credit where credit is due, the Grizzlies punched the Lakers in the mouth this game. LeBron was back in the lineup and Frank Vogel gave Alex Caruso the nod to start to fill in for an injured Danny Green, but the changes weren't enough. The Grizzlies got off to a hot 6-0 start. Based on the highlights, you can tell that they wanted to make a statement. If you look at the Grizzlies out of late, of course Ja Morant has been solid for them. But Dillon Brooks is catching fire in scoring and Jonas Valanciunas is crashing the boards. He almost outrebounded the entire Lakers team with 20 boards. Morant had a nice outing with 27 points and 14 assists and Brooks dropped 24 points. The Lakers looked flat this game. It was a quiet offensive outing as they were held to 88 points, their season low. I do remember Morant's statement that they could knock off the Lakers if they hold on to the 8th seed in the West. Well, the proved they can hang this game. But, it's a whole different ball game to hang with them in a 7-game series. It'll be an interesting finish with the Pelicans, Blazers, and Spurs behind them also vying for that #8 spot.

03/01: @ New Orleans 122-114 [W] (46-13)

The Lakers had an ugly loss last night in Memphis. In New Orleans on back-to-back nights, they locked in and persevered against the adversity. No AD nor Caruso this game and they still pulled off the W against the upstarting Pelicans. It was LeBron-Zion II on this week. In the first meeting, there were not too many one-on-one highlights. But, there was more action here between the two. Zion had a little shake and bake move with LeBron guarding him. And LeBron drained a crowd-silencing three over the rookie in return. As usual, both dropped 30+ points, but LeBron showed why he's still the best player in the world with a 34 pts, 12 rebs, and 13 asts triple-double. Kyle Kuzma drew the start in place of AD with 20 points and JaVale McGee picked it up for the "SWAT team" with 5 blocks this game. With the Lakers sweeping the season series vs. the Pelicans, it's safe to say they won Round 1 of the Anthony Davis trade for Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, and Josh Hart. However, this Pelicans team is on the rise with a lot of good, young pieces that have yet to hit their prime.

Lakers Weekly Roundup #13: Returning to Normal

*This week does not include tonight's 100-125 win over the Phoenix Suns*

No matter how much you put it, last week was a very tough week. But, the Lakers managed to stay strong and continue to push through this season. This week, it was time to get back to normalcy. Many have not noticed, but the top seed in the West is too close for comfort. With this notion, the Lakers must refocus. They've been reeling, especially against the better teams in the league. With a couple more games until the All-Star break, let's see how they fare to wrap up the first half of the regular season.

02/04: vs. San Antonio 102-129 [W] (38-11)


The Lakers and Staples Center returned to normal Tuesday after a somber week. This game, it was back to business. This stretch of the season should be favorable as the NBA inches closer to All-Star weekend. The Lakers and Spurs were always a headline on prime time. But with the Spurs' recent struggles, it's tough to view this matchup that way. Outside of DeMar DeRozan going off for 28 points, the Spurs struggled all around as a team. It was close though. Then, LeBron went bonkers for 6 three-pointers to help the Lakers pull away against the reeling Spurs. Not only that, the Lakers crushed the Spurs on the boards with 58 rebounds compared to the Spurs' 28 rebounds. Spurs should consider a rebuild at this point.

02/06: vs. Houston 111-121 [L] (38-12)

The trade deadline passed and the Lakers chose to stand pat. For the Rockets though, they revamped the roster going ultra small ball by sending away Clint Capela. I mean they're throwing P.J. Tucker into the pit and asking him to play Center. The Lakers have the size and length advantage. This should be easy.

It was not. Honestly with the tall lineup the Lakers have, how do you lose to a team full of midgets? Well, Mike D'Antoni said it best: it doesn't matter if teams dominate all statistical categories against them as long as they score more than the opposition. The Lakers didn't use their size enough. This is a team where you see they have a small lineup, you use that size and bully ball inside. They didn't do that and instead try to play the Rockets' style of play: jacking up 3s and turning the ball over. We can't undermine Russell Westbrook's 41-point performance. In the midst of James Harden's struggles, he's picked up the load and he carried the team. As for the Lakers, y'all epitomized the story of David vs. Goliath this game. What a shame.

02/08: @ Golden State 125-120 [W] (39-12)

Classy on the Warriors organization's part in providing a tribute to Kobe Bryant and Gianna Bryant during the game. Respect.

It's the Lakers vs. the Santa Cruz Warriors...and Andrew Wiggins. That's what it really is. Despite the Warriors struggles, facing them on the road spells "trap" for the Lakers. Considering how they stunk up the joint vs. the Rockets the other night, I wouldn't be surprised if they played down to their level of competition. That wasn't the case the third quarter as the Lakers blew the game wide open to a 20 point lead. Time to rest AD and LeBron. But, they can't hold onto the lead that LeBron had to bail them out with another dagger 3. A win is a win. Call it that the Lakers are still recovering from an emotional past week. But, this is a cause for concern, especially when they didn't make any moves at the trade deadline. Luckily, there's two more games after this until the team heads into the All-Star break. Just reach 40 wins before the break please.

Lakers Weekly Roundup Week 4: Taking Care of Business

The loss against Toronto two Sundays ago stung the Lakers and they continued to sit as the 2nd best record in the NBA...behind Boston (bleh). But a loss is sometimes good. Multiple losses? Not quite. So far, the Lakers have stead clear of a losing skid. This past week's schedule presents a much easier stretch for the purple and gold. Why it's against teams that they're expected to beat! As always, it's better to not take any opponent for granted and the Lakers are well aware of that to start this season. Let's see how they fared this stretch!

11/12: @ Phoenix 123-115 [W] (8-2)

HIGHLIGHTS

Ah, good to finally see that the team is at full strength with the return of Rajon Rondo. Last Sunday was a tough loss to the defending champions, but it's time to put that in the rear view mirror with a bounceback win against the Phoenix Suns. When you think of the Phoenix Suns in the past, you think easy win. They've turned heads so far this season with a few upset wins on their belt. They are a high octane scoring team that can light up the scoreboard. The Lakers clearly got the memo here and played with a lot of urgency. Anthony Davis dominated his way with 24 points and 12 rebounds, but he had help closing this game out. LeBron did what he did with the 19 points and 11 assists, but it was the supporting cast that stepped up. Danny Green comes alive after a string of quiet games where he was a non-factor with 14 points. Dwight Howard notched a near double-double with 12 points and 9 rebounds. And Kyle Kuzma, he had a terrible string of games against Miami and Toronto, but he came up big in his 23 point performance this game. No question, the Suns are on the come up. They finally have some veterans they can rely on. Ricky Rubio's addition takes a load off Devin Booker and allows him to do what he do best...score. But, the Lakers came to play and re-exert their hot start as the top team in the West.

11/13: vs. Golden State 94-120 [W] (9-2)

HIGHLIGHTS

For the past 5 years, the Golden State gods enacted their reign of terror across the NBA. When teams see the Warriors, they'd either cower in fear or answer the challenge...and fall short as they're overmatched by their talent. Now, let's look at this year, the Warriors are a shadow of their once unstoppable dynasty. They are no longer the gods of the NBA and are banished to league purgatory. To all my Warrior fans, have a seat. Welcome to the period that is rebuilding.

With the Dubs no longer a threat, the Lakers decide to rule out AD and Rondo for this game. Rondo just got back from injury. And of course, AD is a key piece. They will need the 'Brow healthy down the stretch. No AD? No Rondo? No problem as the Lakers stepped it up and beat down the Warriors like they should. Dwight Howard and JaVale McGee anchored the inside in AD's absence. McGee had 18 points, 17 rebounds, and 3 blocks and Dwight had 15 points, 8 rebounds, and a block. I'm astonished Dwight is -4. It could be the foul trouble and some missed free throws. He did have some defensive breakdowns, but Dwight's performance was on par with McGee this game. Nonetheless, both bigs filled in well and dominated the Warriors' weak interior D. As mentioned no AD this game, but LeBron and Kuzma proved that the Lakers have an alternate dynamic duo in place. LeBron ran circles around this Warrior team: 23 points, 12 assists on 11-21 shooting. There was a scare in the first half when he slipped. We all know what happened on Christmas Day. But, luckily no injury for the King. Funny enough, the Lakers had a comfortable lead that he was not needed for the 4th quarter. Kuzma picked up the slack in scoring with 22 points on an efficient 7-12 shooting. He's really getting back into the groove of things and he's going to pick it up more as the season progresses. Quinn Cook chipped in 10 points. He did well against his former team. Nice revenge games for both he and McGee. A dominant win against the Warriors takes me back to the good old days when this was common and all my Warrior friends can't say nothing to me. To Dub Nation I say welcome back to being the punching bag.

11/15: vs. Sacramento 97-99 [W] (10-2)

HIGHLIGHTS

This game was a homecoming for Luke Walton since the Lakers terminated him by season's end. Things got off to a rough start in Luke's first few games coaching the Kings, but they're playing much better as of late. Sacramento has strung together some wins sans their key young pieces in De'Aaron Fox and Marvin Bagley III. It would be sweet revenge for Luke if he coaches the Kings to an upset victory. They started off hot right out of the gate. With the way Luke coaches with that Golden State system, you know the Kings are going to rain threes all night. Things were going fine for Sacramento until LeBron killed Nemanja Bjelica in plain sight during the 2nd quarter. The guy is in his 17th season, yet he's still putting defenders on a poster. This game was a huge scare for the Lakers, especially in the 2nd half. When you think the Lakers were gonna pull away, the Kings kept knocking on the door. It's not just Buddy Hield as a scoring threat, but Richaun Holmes showed out for Sacramento. And there's also Bogdan Bogdanovic to look out for. I still get PTSD from last year when he nailed a cold-blooded three over Tyson Chandler to win the game in their first meeting at Sacramento. The Lakers got some unexpected contributions though. KCP, as much flack as he gets, he made a couple of key buckets in the 4th quarter. That can't be overlooked. Sacramento fought hard, but LeBron and AD closed out the game and finished off the Queens. LeBron made clutch free throws to put the Lakers in front. Then Anthony Davis denied Harrison Barnes as Barnes attempted the game-tying layup.

11/17: vs. Atlanta 101-122 [W] (11-2)

HIGHLIGHTS

Kobe Bryant was at this game! All present Lakers must pay their respects as they are blessed by the Black Mamba's presence. LeBron, Kuz, AD, and even Dwight Howard paid their respects to Kobe. Now, it's time to do him proud, embrace the Mamba Mentality, and kill the opposing team in sight. They did just that this game. Yes, I know it's against the Hawks who are not expected to be good, but they have some good young pieces. Atlanta got blown out the following night against the Clippers and the Lakers did the same. This was a weird game throughout, but all was right for the LakeShow. LeBron put on a show for Kobe with 33 points and draining 6 threes. The Black Mamba gave the King an ounce of his shooting venom for this game. AD had a strange game. He didn't grab a single rebound until the 2nd half. He still racked up some points and blocks though. And Danny Green had the highlight of the night with his putback dunk. I totally forgot he still had some hops. Not much to say about this game. It was just another wire-to-wire victory for the Lakers. They definitely needed this blowout after Friday's thriller.

Raptors Dethrone Warriors in Six for First NBA Championship

Series Breakdown

05/30: Game 1 - GSW 109 TOR 118 TOR 1-0
06/02: Game 2 - GSW 109 TOR 104 Tied 1-1
06/05: Game 3 - TOR 123 GSW 109 TOR 2-1
06/07: Game 4 - TOR 105 GSW 92 TOR 3-1
06/10: Game 5 - GSW 106 TOR 105 TOR 3-2
06/13: Game 6 - TOR 114 GSW 110 Toronto Raptors 2019 NBA Champions (4-2)!

All things are settled down after an amazing Game 6 last night. The Toronto Raptors are your 2019 NBA Champions as they dethrone the Golden State Warriors in six games, capping off with a 114-110 game 6 thriller in what is effectively the last game in Oracle Arena in Oakland as the Warriors move to their new Chase Center home in San Francisco for next season. As you look at the overview of this series, the home team has won once. This hasn't been done since the 1993 NBA Finals between the Phoenix Suns and the Chicago Bulls. Not only, that it's impressive on the Raptors' part that they won all of their games at Oracle Arena this season. It's never an easy feat to win in that raucous arena, especially against the reigning dynasty Warriors.

Game 1, history was made as it marked the first NBA Finals game to be played outside of the United States. The Warriors were in unfamiliar territory as they have to go on the road to achieve that elusive 3-peat. The Raptors, you wonder about jitters having hosting their first finals game, the pressure was all on them. And they stepped up to the challenge. Pascal Siakam made his case for MIP (Most Improved Player) with 32 points. Marc Gasol stepped up with 20 points. They dominated the Warriors inside the paint. It was a pretty convincing win for a team making its finals debut. Game 2, the Warriors responded like the champions they were. The third quarter was huge for them as they completely blanked the Raptors at the start with an 18-0 run out of the gate. It wasn't until Fred VanVleet's three that Toronto finally put up some points. Nonetheless, the Raptors hung in there. They had a chance with a near interception by Kawhi Leonard at the final seconds. But, the ball bounced back to the Warriors' favor and Andre Iguodala hit a clutch three to seal it. The Raptors leaving Iggy open was controversial. I can understand the rationale to leave him open as he's not a reliable 3-point shooter. But, there was no denying in the big stage, the former Finals MVP can deliver in the clutch for the Warriors.

As the series shifts to Game 3, we first see our glimpses of the Warriors' dynasty cracking as Klay Thompson had to sit out with a hamstring. Kevon Looney was initially out for the rest of series with a chest injury. This game was easy picking for the Raptors. Curry will do his thing as indicated in his 47-point explosion that game, but everybody else didn't bother to step up. Danny Green found some life this game with the Raptors, draining six threes. He has been a non-factor this postseason, but we saw a little throwback of San Antonio Danny Green. Kawhi lead the team with 30 points. Lowry made some key buckets to put this game on ice early. Serge Ibaka had a block party with 6 blocks. Game 4, the Raptors won convincingly with a healthy Klay back and Looney surprisingly playing through the chest injury. They were trailing and then stormed back in the second half with a resounding performance from Serge Ibaka off the bench with 20 points. The pick and roll with he and Lowry is absolutely devastating. Fred VanVleet took advantage of that pick and roll with Ibaka as well. The Warriors had no answer to stop it nor could they guard Ibaka's hook shot in the paint. Leonard once again lead the team with 36 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 steals. You can just feel it that he's determined to end the 3-peat hopes of another dynasty.

Game 5, the Raptors have the opportunity of a lifetime to close this series out in front of their hometown, but Kevin Durant is back to give the Warriors a lift and possibly set up another 3-1 comeback. Durant showed no signs of rust with 11 points to provide a spark to Golden State's offense. Then, the devastating Achilles rupture happened and this is the first part of the Warriors' downfall. The Raptors fought their way back in the 2nd half. Kawhi Leonard is taking over the game, despite a bad shooting night. The Warriors are playing sloppy. The refs are trying their best to rig this game. Then Nick Nurse calls a timeout with 3:05 in the 4th quarter. If there's ever a time for a rookie coach to make a mistake, it's the regular season, not when you have a championship to clinch on your home floor. Coach Nurse made that timeout blunder, completely stopping all momentum and giving that momentum back to the Warriors. The Splash Bros. shot the Warriors back to tie and take the lead. The Raptors had a final chance with Lowry's potential winning shot, but Draymond lays a fingertip on the shot to allow the Warriors to fight another day.

Game 6, this is where it all came down. Again, the Warriors have their backs against the wall and this game is even bitter sweet that it is the final game in Oracle Arena. Nothing else was on their mind other than win one final game for Dub Nation and for Durant as well. This game was absolutely incredible down to the wire. It was like a heavyweight fight  with the defending champ knocked down by the new challenger, but the champ continued to fight to 12 rounds despite major swelling and bleeding. Unfortunately, the Warriors lost too much blood with not only KD out, but Klay going down this game with an ACL injury. The Raptors saw some heroics from Fred VanVleet off the bench and Kyle Lowry and Kawhi Leonard taking over the game and eventually leading the Raptors to their first NBA title for the City of Toronto and all of Canada.

I've said it in my preview, that if the Raptors were to win this series and dethrone the 2x defending champs, a lot of variables have to happen. Somebody else has to step to take some load of Kawhi because obviously the Warriors will try to account for him on defense. And that came to fruition. You had Pascal Siakam and Marc Gasol step up for Game 1. Danny Green for Game 3. Serge Ibaka for Game 4. Kyle Lowry played amazing on the road. Fred VanVleet has been solid off the bench. Kawhi Leonard, didn't shoot the ball particularly well this series, but he still found ways to take over the game. The key to beating these Warriors is to play physical against them, out rebound them, and most of all make them turn the ball over. And the Raptors with their #1 ranked defense checked off all those categories.

With the way the Raptors built their team, it reminded me of how the old school teams would build their championship team: have two All-Star players and surround them with role players. And if push comes to shove, make midseason moves to find the missing piece to bolster the roster. Masai Ujiri and the Raptors took a calculated risk and it paid off. The next step is to keep the roster in tact. Kawhi Leonard is the biggest wild card here. No matter if he stays or leaves, he's cemented himself in Toronto basketball lore with this epic run and Raptor fans should be forever grateful even if meant sacrificing DeMar DeRozen in the process. Also, I gotta thank him because that's twice this decade that a team tried to supplant the 2000-2002 Lakers' 3-peat and he stopped both of them. Nonetheless, if they're going to break up this championship team immediately, don't do it like what Mark Cuban and the Mavericks did following the 2010-11 season.

For the Warriors, I haven't seen something like this since the Pistons outclassed the Lakers in 2004. Granted, injuries to Durant and Klay decimated this roster. But, that's the risk that goes with fielding a superteam. You gain superstar players at the expense of a deep roster with reliable role players. As always, injuries are always a part of the game. It's unfortunate, but reality. So any Warrior fans who are salty about this, remember your first title came at the expense of Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love-less Cavaliers. It's the way the NBA works, dynasties don't last long and they have to break up in order to restore competitive balance in the league. Regardless, dark times are coming for the Warriors and the loss in their final game in Oracle in Game 6 is symbolic that it signifies the end of an era. Now with Klay hurt, KD hurt, Bob Myers has a tough decision to make. Granted, they're planning to lock both players to long-term deal, but are they willing to give two injured players big contracts at the expense of the opportunity to get younger and sign quality players to bolster the team's depth? Do you really want to lose a sense of your mantra in "Strength in Numbers?"

Regardless, both the Raptors and Warriors are at the critical point after these Finals with a lot of questions heading into the offseason. But for now, the Golden dynasty falls while the North rises and so opens a brand new, unpredictable world of the NBA. Because when a superteam in one conference gets too dominant, make sure to have a Kawhi Leonard on a team in an opposite conference to face them in the finals to bring balance back to the league. Anyway, the Larry O'Brien trophy has moved to a new country. It's new home is the home of the first basketball game ever played in: O Canada.

2019 NBA Finals Preview: Golden State Warriors vs. Toronto Raptors

Four straight years, the Golden State gods have battled King James and the Cavalier kingdom for supremacy in the basketball realm. The Golden State gods have taken three out of four holy contests to establish themselves as a dynasty for the ages. Now with King James exiled into the bright lights of Los Angeles and the Cavalier kingdom broken beyond repair once again with his departure, it seemed like none would stand in the way of the Golden State gods and their quest for a 3-peat. But, a new worthy opponent has risen to the occasion. Free from the 3-year tyranny of King James, the Raptors, feral beasts of the North, thought to be extinct, are reborn from the ashes as the new Kings of the East with a new leader. He is aformer Westener who has brought the Golden State gods a worthy challenge when healthy. He is "the Klaw" and he's out for blood to exact revenge with the Golden State gods weakened. No Zaza this time to take out the imminent threat he brings to their reign. Will the reign end or are the Golden State gods using their weakened state as a ploy as they regain their beautifully enigmatic basketball play?

Hope you guy liked that literature above. Welcome in to the 2019 NBA Finals preview provided by yours truly! Finally, we get a fresh new matchup after four straight years of Cavs vs. Warriors in a battle for NBA supremacy. Although the Warriors are still here in the Finals, we get a new Eastern Conference challenger all the way from Canada. Guess you can say finally whoever inserts "World Champions" on their banner gets to justify it. Because this is more than just a Finals matchup. This is a battle of two North American countries in the United States and Canada. This year's matchup features the defending champion Golden State Warriors and the Toronto Raptors!

Golden State Warriors

Since you have to hear about this team for the fifth consecutive time on the blog, I recommend you skip this part. Was there ever a doubt that this team, someway, somehow will find a way to head to the NBA Finals? It's like I said before, the Golden State Warriors are the champs until they are dethroned. They'll have a chance to do something that no team has done since my childhood Lakers of Shaq and Kobe...3-peat. Though they won back-to-back titles and swept LeBron, banishing him to the depths of Hollywood, the Warriors continue to stay lock and loaded. This offseason, they reminded us of how unfair their organization and culture is compared to the 29 other teams that make up the NBA. They signed DeMarcus Cousins to a cheap 1-year deal and all of a sudden, their starting lineup is literally the Western All-Stars. However, they wouldn't insert him into the lineup until January, but nonetheless they still dominated with or without him.

Despite the invincibility the Warriors bring, there is some drama brewing inside the team. The biggest trigger is the looming free agency of Kevin Durant. It's pretty questionable why he would leave the Warriors when they are his best shot at winning multiple championships. But clearly, the rumors got bigger with him being linked to signing with the New York Knicks, Los Angeles Clippers, or Los Angeles Lakers (we're not getting him, be realistic). In fact, things got testy with Durant and Draymond as Green pointed that "they already won a championship without him." Well, he's not wrong. The Warriors signed KD in the first place was so that they have somebody to counter LeBron in the finals. Now that the threat of LeBron is no more at the moment, Durant no longer has any purpose. But, despite all that, they were able to settle their differences to finish strong in the regular season and stay locked in come playoff time. They had quite a test against the superstar-less Clippers in the first round, but Durant's monster performances that series helped propel the Warriors to victory in six games. The next round involved a Western Conference Final rematch against the Rockets. This is where things shifted a little bit. Durant sustained a calf injury in Game 5 and he's out indefinitely. There's something fishy about that injury and it could be worse than what the Warriors are revealing to the media. KD out. Boogie out. That should spell the end of the dynasty right? There's only one problem...the Warriors lineup roster that's currently out there consists of nearly the same roster that won 73 games three years ago, albeit aging. From Game 6 against Houston to all four games against Portland in the Conference Finals, we saw the resurgence of the Warriors' beautiful ball movement, spacing, and pacing. I'm talking the 2014-2016 Warriors pre-KD. And it's all powered by their home-grown core of the 2x MVP Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. They also had big contributions from 2015 Finals MVP Andre Iguodala and Kevon Looney, who has been nothing short of magnificent as a 6th man this postseason. How quickly they forget.

Toronto Raptors

Relax Toronto. LeBron is no longer in the East to torment your souls year after year. The Raptors made headlines earlier this offseason in a surprising move to let this season's NBA Coach of the Year winner, Dwane Casey go after leading the Raptors to the #1 seed, only to get swept by King James in the 2nd round. In a follow up transaction, they promoted assistant coach, Nick Nurse as the next head coach. The Raptors were pretty much an unknown heading into this season as DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry had to live in the agony of coming up short yet again. However, they received a gift from the San Antonio Spurs in the form of Kawhi Leonard (and Danny Green as extra). Masai Ujiri deserves Executive of the Year for pulling that trade. Yes, it came at the cost of DeRozan, but what they got in return was a superstar, a Finals MVP, a DPOY winner, and one of the best two-way players in the game today. Who wouldn't be ecstatic to get a big return like that?

The acquisition of Leonard has turned the Raptors from a running joke in the East to an instant title contender. While Kawhi gets all the headlines, we can't overlook a few other Raptor players that stepped up. Pascal Siakam made major strides this year with a 16.9 PPG and 6.9 RPG breakout season. This major increase in production has deemed him worthy to be nominated for this year's Most Improved Player award. He might've supplanted Kyle Lowry as the 2nd option on the team. Fred VanVleet and Norman Powell are major contributors off the bench, VanVleet especially when he's shooting hot. Ujiri and the Raptors front office made some mid-season moves to strengthen the team as well by trading for Marc Gasol and giving away long time starter Jonas Valanciunas. The Raptors had a lot of rationale in fielding a "win now" team. Kawhi is on a one-year rental and it's unknown if he wants to stay in Toronto long-term. But, he already built a legacy in Toronto in one year that surpasses what Vince Carter, Chris Bosh, and DeMar DeRozan did for the franchise in their tenure as Raptors. Come playoff time, he was an absolute animal on both ends of the floor. During the matchups against Orlando, Philly, and Milwaukee, he single-handedly carried the Raptors and put an end to their past playoff shortcomings. Nick Nurse is also doing a hell of a job as a first-year head coach, making all the necessary adjustments and placing his trust on his rotation. Heading into the finals for the first time in franchise history since their inception in 1995, the Raptors don't have just the city of Toronto behind them, but all of Canada as well.

Keys for the Dubs

Honestly, it'd be an added bonus if they get back Kevin Durant and DeMarcus Cousins at some point in this series. But so far, the 2-time defending champions are holding their own with their home-grown Big 3 of Curry, Thompson, and Green. Since KD went out, Curry has been on an absolute tear. The shooting woes in the last few games are glaring, but in big moments Curry delivers when needed. The team has shifted back to his chain of command and he's looking for a Finals MVP this time around. Draymond Green is back to being the all-around player he used to be from 2014-2016, setting the tone on both ends of the floor. He too is going to be key, but he's gonna have his hands against bigger players such as Marc Gasol, Serge Ibaka, and Pascal Siakam, especially since the Warriors are heavily reliant on their small-ball "death lineup." Klay Thompson, it's simple, when he heats up, it's an added bonus for the Warriors' offense. Like Curry, Klay has had some shooting slumps, but delivers in key moments on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. The Splash Bros. will do work. Andre Iguodala is going to have the assignment in trying to contain Kawhi Leonard, he'll be an X-Factor as always. Like I said before, the Warriors are getting some big-time contribution from Kevon Looney off the bench. His youth and hustle on the boards could create some mismatch problems. The motto of this Warriors' dynasty has always been "Strength in Numbers." It's time to live up to that moniker again.

Keys for the Raps

The Raptors haven't been to a stage as big as the NBA Finals in their franchise history. However, they do have some players with some Finals experience. As mentioned, Kawhi Leonard is a former Finals MVP and this will be his third Finals appearance. Danny Green is in the same boat. Serge Ibaka has been there before in 2012 when the Heat eliminated his Thunder in five games. Patrick McCaw, despite not having any major role this postseason, has been on the Warriors' championship roster the past two years and could provide some valuable insight on how to beat them. The other Raptor players will definitely have some jitters despite having home court advantage. Kawhi Leonard has been a godsend for the Raptors this year. He's going to have to set the tone, but without the question the Warriors will gameplan for him defensively, so he's gonna need some outside help. Basically, it hinges on if anybody on the roster shows up this series. Kyle Lowry has to show up. VanVleet has to continue shooting the ball with confidence off the bench. Danny Green and Marc Gasol have had minimal contributions to the team so far this postseason. If any other option outside Kawhi steps up for Toronto, it could create a lot of problems for the Warriors. The Raptors have the size with Siakam, Ibaka, and Gasol to create mismatches against the Warriors' death lineup on the boards. With Durant and Cousins out, it's essential for the Raptors to come right out of the gate these first two games and give the back-to-back defending champs a worthy challenge.

Prediction

This was my pick for this year's NBA Finals since the start of the playoffs. I think Toronto has the personnel to match up well against Golden State. The Raptors' regular season sweep of the Warriors doesn't do a whole lot of justice in showing that as both teams were not at their current state at that time. Nonetheless, the Warriors didn't have a Finals matchup as intriguing as this since they faced a healthy Cavaliers team in 2016. This is especially since they don't have KD and Boogie to start this series. There's no question, the Raptors are going to give them a run for their money. Steve Kerr and Nick Nurse are going to have an epic chess match in coaching and game planning. But at the end of the day, you can't underestimate the heart of a champion. These Warriors are hungry to add on to the dynasty and become the first team to 3-peat in over a decade. Whether Durant and Cousins show up at all, the experience and championship mettle will be on display and look for them to give Oracle Arena one final sendoff with a championship celebration on the home floor.

Warriors in 6

Lakers Weekly Roundup (02/03): Hell Week 1

The past week was dedicated to the buzz in downtown Atlanta as it built up to Super Bowl Sunday. But like always, the NBA just has to find its way to steal the thunder of the NFL and make headlines. Such that the NBA trade deadline is near. One blockbuster trade after another, the Lakers' quest for Anthony Davis continues to dominate headlines. The Lakers made competitive offers by giving up the entire roster outside of LeBron to get AD. But the Pelicans front office wouldn't budge due to outside sources telling them not to give him to the Lakers. Hmmm, why aren't they fined for tampering? There's no question, it is deal or no deal for Purple and Gold Royalty down to the final few days before the deadline. Especially it comes at a crucial time when they face their toughest stretch yet that blocks them from returning to glory. As trade talks swirl for now, the Lakers take center stage in this week's Weekly Roundup.

01/29: vs. Philadelphia 121-105 [L] (26-25)

HIGHLIGHTS

Talk about a breakout performance from Brandon Ingram as he exploded on this game with 36 points on 16-20 shooting. Good stuff B.I. But, that is irrelevant considering Philly's "Trust the Process" movement moved in and took what they wanted in LA. LakeShow's Delicious Turnovers were in business early on this game as the Lakers murdered themselves to death by their own turnovers to start. The 76ers were definitely the best customers for the night as they capitalized for points off turnovers. If it helps us sleep at night, the 76ers manhandled the Warriors at Oracle on Thursday.

01/31: @ LA Clippers 123-120 (OT) [W] (27-25)

HIGHLIGHTS

The Lakers are one more loss away from being at .500 and they are a few games back behind the Clippers for the 8th spot in the West. And still there's no sight of LeBron nearing a return as he's also ruled out for this-*sees headline that LeBron is back.* Never mind, it's the return of the King baby! "LeBron ex Machina" is going to come save the day and lead the Lakers back into contention! The Lakers get another big boost with the return of KuzMania! They're just missing Zo, but this team is good enough to compete at the least. We have LeBron back! Back in December, the Clippers beat a LeBron-less Lakers. Now, it's time to pay them back and show them who's the real LA team! The Lakers ballooned the lead in the 2nd half. Only to watch it squander in front of their faces. Ah even with King James' return, it's good to see that some things don't change, such as the Lakers blowing a big lead in the 4th quarter and heading into OT. Both teams tried to hand each other W's at the end of regulation, but they pulled the trigger on each other a little too soon with some boneheaded plays off timeouts. Fortunately, the Clippers showed that they are still the Clippers as their top free throw shooters miss some key free throws down the stretch and Tobias Harris threw up some bricks. Even at near full strength, the Lakers are in deep trouble if they teams like the Clippers hang around. This is why we can't have nice things.

02/02: @ Golden State 101-115 [L] (27-26)

HIGHLIGHTS

Before we dive into this game, LeBron James was healthy scratch for this. The reason? Load Management? That's the actual DNP for LeBron. Gregg Popovich did this a few years ago when he gave Tim Duncan a DNP because he's "old." But, load management? Why? Is it because simply saying "DNP - Rest" too mainstream? Understandably so, LeBron came back after significant time off. And they played until overtime the previous night against the Lakers. So that urged the Lakers' coaching staff to monitor him to ensure he gets back to 100%. Abandoned by the King yet again, the Lakers arrive to Oakland to challenge the Golden State gods in the Trial of Oracle. The Lakers fought valiantly, eventually building an 11 point lead in the third quarter against the Golden State gods. Even better, Steph, the god of Rainbow Threes lost his touch. Rarely do we see that. All was going well until the DeMarcus, the Emotional Lesbian god struck KuzMania in holy baptism. Thus, the Golden State gods decided they had enough and disposed of the Lakers easily in the fourth quarter. At least we can cling onto the fact that the Lakers blew the Golden State gods out by 27 on Christmas Day, which is still the largest margin of victory by either team head-to-head this season.

Lakers Weekly Roundup (01/27): "Kingdom Under Fire"

*Some NSFW language*

Let's be perfectly honest Laker Nation, not a lot has gone right for the Lakers since the injury bug hit them. As Purple and Gold Royalty continues to record staggering lows, perhaps it is time to make a move or two as most Laker fans are clamoring for it. Talks of Anthony Davis wanting out of New Orleans is heating up as the trade deadline nears with the Lakers being the preferred destination. Instead of the young core of Kuzma, Hart, Ingram, Ball, and Zubac being untouchable, they are now potential pieces for a blockbuster to acquire the services of the "Unibrow." In other news, the strings of losses since the injuries have possibly put Luke Walton's job in jeopardy. The King's camp is reportedly not happy of coach Luke's efforts to hold the team together. There may be some merit to justify Luke's firing, such as the team looks uninspired, demoralized, and overwhelmed against some of the better teams in the league. As the saying goes, coaches coach and players play. Laker fans in forums continue to lament on past young pieces, such that they wished they had D'Angelo Russell and Julius Randle back as D'Lo continues to put Brooklyn on the map in an impressive winning streak or Randle still putting up pts and rebs and leading the 2nd unit for the Pelicans. Truly, it opens up a case of what-ifs. Maybe the team needs an overhaul on their player development staff or it's finally time for a "changing-of-the-guard" in ownership. Dear Jeanie, will you lead the Lakers back to the promised land? Or are you just another product of the late, great Dr. Jerry Buss's inheritance like your brother Jim before you? Hmmm, this does remind me of another guy who inherited his father's team and is currently burning it to the ground in Oakland and has no idea where to play before heading to Sin City. Nonetheless, this is your Lakers Weekly Roundup!

01/21: vs. Golden State 130-111 [L] (25-23)

FULL RECAP 

Thanos has arrived with all Infinity Stones in tact. That would be the new-look Warriors with a fully healthy DeMarcus Cousins going up against a Lakers squad with injuries to their top play makers. Luckily for the Lakers, the Golden State gods of Oakland decided to grant mercy on them as they only needed Klay, god of catch-and-shoot, to rain threes on them to the tune of 38 points in a 2nd half blowout. The other gods? They had the night off. But Steph, the god of rainbow threes took quite a Shaqtin' tumble in the 3rd quarter.

01/24: vs. Minnesota 120-105 [L] (25-24)

FULL RECAP

The Lakers get Rajon Rondo back. Finally, all is well for the flow of the Neo-Showtime offense. But, the Timberwolves decided it was feasting time on the glass and fastbreak points. You know it's bad when you let Andrew Wiggins play a meaningful game. Take that Jimmy Butler!

01/27: vs. Phoenix 102-116 [W] (26-24)

HIGHLIGHTS

To think this happened on the late, great Dr. Jerry Buss's birthday. I'm pretty sure he's turning in his grave after the current 5 years of pure shit in Lakers franchise history. But, the Lakers managed to channel some of the winning magic that Dr. Buss left behind. Well, then again this game was against the Suns. They're definitely going places with a Devin Booker who wants to pick fights with players in the locker room and a currently injured DeAndre Ayton. The Lakers get big-time contributions of 24 points from KCP, 24 points and 16 rebounds from Ivica Zubac, and  22 points Brandon Ingram. Plus  a guitar solo from Lance Stephenson off the bench to the tune of 17 points. The Lakers certainly needed this win as they embark on an upcoming hellacious stretch against some of the better teams in the NBA. LeBron, where art thou?

Klay Thompson Single-Handedly Burns Lakers

Welcome in to the full recap of the Lakers' matchup vs. the Golden State Warriors as the NBA wraps up their MLK Day slate of games where the Lakers kept it close in the first half, but Klay Thompson's sensational 44-point game leads the Warriors to a 130-111 rout.

You know, the Warriors do show mercy when one of their star players goes off while the others take the night off. I'm going to be honest here, with Golden State at full strength and the Lakers missing their key playermakers, I didn't expect this to be a victory regardless of the outcome. I wouldn't count this as a total annihilation. Klay Thompson had the hot hand tonight and he helped balloon a 10 point lead into a 30-point lead. He had some help from KD and Curry, but they didn't have to do much tonight. I'm going to do just a quick rundown on this since I do have work early tomorrow.

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4th quarter garbage time. Steve Kerr had to take a few timeouts on this one. As I said, the Warriors were merciful enough to pull Klay Thompson out after he torched the Lakers in the third quarter with 10-11 shooting from 3-point range. The Lakers trimmed down the lead to make it look good. Yes, it wasn't close. We got to see extensive looks on Moe Wagner, Svi Mykhailiuk, and Isaac Bonga. We also had an Alex Caruso sighting as he's a two-way player in case the Lakers have injuries. They needed Caruso to fill out the lack of depth at the Point Guard position. Lakers got quality minutes from them. Surprisingly, JaVale McGee finished out the game. He made the most out of it by putting up more points to cap off his 10-point, 9-rebound game.

Michael Beasley, 15 points, 5 rebounds, 7-8 shooting. Once again, the Lakers received solid contribution from Beasley off the bench. People tend to forget he's a scoring machine when he's hot. I liked what I saw as he looked to kept attacking the Warrior defense. He was smart with his shot selection as well. He didn't take ill-advised shots. He just went to his sweet spot near the high post and connect on his mid range.

Ivica Zubac, 18 points, 4 rebounds, 7-8 shooting. Despite the Lakers lacking their 3 primary playmakers, Zubac still did work inside. Just remember, he destroyed the Warriors in the paint the last time they played each other. DeMarcus Cousins' presence is the only difference this time around, but Zubac still found ways to score in the paint. He has been spectacular off the bench the last few games and McGee and Chandler have done a lot of wonders for his development.

(-)

3rd quarter. Klay Thompson's madness this quarter was the headline. There's no question about that. Missed shots doomed the Lakers even more in this quarter. KCP, Ingram, Kuzma, they built a whole lot of bricks and it allowed the Warriors to get set in transition. When you do that against a team with a deadly offense and with a player who's on absolute pandemonium, bad things happen.

Kyle Kuzma, 16 points, 7-18 shooting. But wait, Kuz still made it double figures! The stats are not exactly up to standard on what KuzMania is capable of. Not to mention, he didn't hit a single three as he was 0-5 from beyond the arc.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, 4 points, 1-5 shooting. This is why I call KCP: "Kentavious Caldwell-Poop." He'll give out good scoring games, but overall this has been a terrible season for KCP's standard by far.

Free throw shooting. The Kryptonite reared its ugly head again as the Lakers shot 57% from the charity stripe. Not that it would've made a difference, but it would've minimized the margin of defeat.

MVP

Ivica Zubac, 18 points, 4 rebounds, 7-8 shooting 

There you go Zu, here's your MVP. Clearly Rondo was more valuable in the last meeting, but Zubac held his own against Boogie without a pure playmaker setting him up easy looks.






Conclusion

The NBA's Thanos only needed one Infinity Stone to beat a Lakers team who has half of its universe gone. People can say that the Golden State Warriors ruined NBA parity by signing Kevin Durant two offseasons ago and then signing DeMarcus Cousins two offseasons later. What's astonishing about this team is that they know how to keep egos in check with that much star power in hand. Just when you think drama is unfolding to put the franchise in shambles, they just throw it out the door and ball. The Golden State Warriors are the NBA's version of the New England Patriots. They have the perfect system and they have the right culture which many teams are so desperately trying to duplicate. As far as the Lakers, they have a lot more soul-searching to do. Even if LeBron and Rondo return and Lonzo later, this team have their backs against the wall right now. Forget they playoff talk, just win some games and build some consistency. They'll be at it again against the Timberwolves. I will see you guys for that game.

01/21: LAKERS vs. Warriors 2nd Half Open Thread

This is the 2nd half open thread of the Lakers-Warriors matchup as the NBA remembers MLK. As usual, leave a comment below and share your thoughts on the game.

Q4

GSW 130 LAL 111

Trim the 30-point deficit to just a 19-point deficit, fair enough. Garbage time always helps to minimize the damage a bit and make the scoreboard look good. Stay tuned for the full recap.

Q3

GSW 110 LAL 80

A merciful end to the quarter. I tell you when Klay Thompson is in a zone, he's in a zone. The guy went 9-9 from beyond the arc this quarter and the Lakers couldn't do anything, despite playing tough defense to deny Klay the ball. His shooting stroke is otherworldly tonight. This quarter was the worst case scenario for the shorthanded Lakers. Yet at the same time, it was expected considering the disparity of talent from both teams tonight. It also doesn't help that the Lakers were asinine on their shots. Too many bricks, which is why they trail by this much.

01/21: Remembering MLK: LAKERS vs. Warriors 1st Half Open Thread

Welcome in to the first half open thread of the Lakers-Warriors matchup as the NBA remembers Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Leave a comment below and share your thoughts on the game.

Q2

GSW 65 LAL 55

It would've been better if it was still down to single digits. The Warriors did try to put this game out of reach early. But, the Lakers as shorthanded as they are, trail by 10 points at the half. Michael Beasley and Ivica Zubac have provided some scoring punch off the bench with a combined 15 points. They were aggressive inside early. Zubac was unstoppable in the Christmas Day matchup. This time, he runs into a tougher matchup in Boogie. And so far? Nothing has fazed the Zupacalypse. Kyle Kuzma came alive just a little bit at the half. Ingram is running point and so far has been effective. What's keeping this from being a blowout is that only one player out of the Warriors' "Fab Five," Klay Thompson is already way into double figures. Durant just barely with 10 points. The rest haven't hit their groove, Curry especially. The biggest concern is allowing the Warriors' other players to go off. Alfonso McKinnie has hit a pair of threes to help balloon Golden State's lead. Like I said, the Lakers may not have enough firepower to pull this off against the Golden State Western All-Stars. But, if they can keep this game tight throughout the 2nd half without LeBron, Zo, and Rondo on the floor, it would be a moral victory. A win would be great though! The 2nd half will open up shortly.

Q1

GSW 29 LAL 24

Well, the Lakers get a crack at the NBA's Thanos and so far, not bad. The Warriors are more than capable of turning up the scoring, but they got off to a slow start, which benefits the Lakers a bit. It also helps that Boogie Cousins is in foul trouble. Can you believe that? Just his second game in and he's in foul trouble again. It's gonna be key to take out one of the "Infinity Stones" early on here and the Lakers gotta take advantage of Golden State's turnovers. They may lose this game, but it'll be a moral victory if they manage to keep this game close.

Lakers' Weekly Roundup (12/30): Fallen King and Fallen Floor General

How much did it cost for the Lakers to get a convincing win against the almighty Golden State Warriors? Everything. It's as if the Purple and Gold made a deal with the Devil before Christmas that if they win against the Warriors, they'd need to sacrifice LeBron James and Rajon Rondo for a couple of games. LeBron sustained a groin injury and is out for an indefinite period of time. Rajon Rondo needs hand surgery again to repair a ligament in one of his fingers and is expected to miss one month of the season. As shorthanded as they are without their unquestioned leaders, it was time for the Laker youth to step up and be the next generation of Laker greats they are projected to be. Let's see how the fared here as they run the "California Gauntlet" in this week's Lakers' weekly roundup.

12/25: @ Golden State 127-101 [W] (20-14)

Full postgame recap HERE

Merry Christmas Dub Nation! Here's a lump of coal. The Lakers pulled out a convincing win against the two time defending champs. But at a cost, LeBron pulled his groin and will be out for an indefinite period of time. Have no fear Laker Nation, Playoff Rondo and ZuPac are here to save the day as they destroyed the Warriors in pick-and-roll action. "Wait until Boogie gets back." They said. As if 4 All Stars weren't enough.

12/27: @ Sacramento 116-117 [L] (20-15)

HIGHLIGHTS

Don't let this distract you from the fact that the Lakers blew a 104-89 lead in the middle of the 4th quarter this game. I was keeping track of this game during a hangout. About 10 mins later, I found out that the Kings made a monster run to pull within as little as three. The Lakers were gonna be super shorthanded with LeBron and Rondo out. But, the Laker youngins played compelling games until when it was time to close the Kings out. Brandon Ingram had 22 points, but decided to play hero ball in crunch-time moments, which lead to critical mistakes and misses. Ivica Zubac was nowhere to be found, which says a lot on how much he needed Rondo and LeBron to be effective. Kyle Kuzma lead the team with 33 points, but missed a free throw that'll ultimately doom them as Bogdan Bogdanovic hit a dagger three to steal a game from the Lakers. Lonzo Ball was the only one who didn't crumble under the pressure as he kept the Lakers in it with a near triple-double of 20 points, 9 rebounds, and 12 assists. Way to waste another rare excellent game from Zo Lakers!

If that tells us something, Lonzo is much more effective when he's given command of the offense. He hasn't had that luxury since he's third in the pecking order with LeBron and Rondo. With LeBron being ball dominant, Zo has had a tough time to adjust playing off ball. Maybe, this game will tell us something down the line and if Luke can make the correct adjustments.

12/28: vs. LA Clippers 118-107 [L] (20-16)

HIGHLIGHTS

Prior to the season, Lou Williams claimed that the Clippers are still L.A.'s team even if LeBron joins the Lakers. Put that crackpipe down Sweet Lou. No question, the Clippers are a surprise team so far in what should've been a rebuilding year. They don't have an established All-Star, but they are a deep team in the league. It was a slugfest for three quarters until the Clippers pulled away with their depth. To add more salt to the wound, Lou Williams went off for 36 points and lead the Clippers to the win here against a short-handed Lakers squad. Congratulations, you beat a Lakers team missing LeBron, Rondo, and let's throw in JaVale McGee too. You're definitely the team in LA.

To throw even more shade, Montrezl Harrell added some more fire. He said: "Y'all try to overlook us just cuz everybody in that purple and gold and the history of it. Yeah, I respect it. But, that don't mean shit to me. We are gonna make you understand who we are." Yes, you are the Clippers, a cursed franchise that is living in the shadow of the Lakers. And also, a team who'll forever be known as that "other LA team." They are a team that wasted their best years behind a prime CP3, Blake Griffin, and DeAndre Jordan by choking in the playoffs year after year after year. They are a team that still hasn't lost their Western Conference Finals virginity. And want to know more? They cover the Lakers' championship banners every home game with selfie banners because clearly they are salty that they can't win the hearts of LA. That's who you Clippers are and who you'll forever be until further notice. World Peace (no pun intended to Metta World Peace) will be attained before the Clippers ever win an NBA Championship for Los Angeles.

12/30: vs. Sacramento 114-121 [W] (21-16) 

HIGHLIGHTS

Happy 34th birthday LeBron! Your present? The Lakers young core finally showing up and winning without you having to bail them out. I mean, it only took three tries. This game did look like the Kings were going to pull away. But, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, and KCP came to the rescue to save the Lakers from skidding down further in the standings. KCP lead all scorers off the bench with 26 points. Unfortunately, his own inconsistency will make this performance forgettable in a couple of days. SlenderIngram took over the game and this time, he did right unlike Thursday night. And he only committed 1 foul as prone as he is committing a whole lot of fouls before realizes he's going to get DQ'd. The Lakers erased the pains of "Yes-Thursday." They made the right adjustments, putting a body on anybody from beyond-the-arc when it mattered the most, especially not giving Bogdan Bogadanovic any air space to hit an open three. The result? The Kings didn't shoot the ball well from deep, connecting on only 13 threes on 34 attempts. And other note, JaVale McGee returned to the lineup last night. He was definitely missed.

Lakers Silence "Roaracle" With Convincing Win vs. Warriors

Welcome in to the first full recap in a long while for the Lakers' most-anticipated Christmas Day matchup vs. the Golden State Warriors where the Lakers put the clamps on the Warriors for the most part of the game and they blew it open in the 4th quarter, sending bitter Warriors fans home in a 127-101 rout.

From me to the rest of my Lakers fans, Merry Christmas. Hope you guys had a chance to spend time with your family and watch a couple of great NBA games. And this one was a beauty to watch. We've heard the media talk about the Lakers that when it comes in comparison with the Warriors, the Lakers are more the inferior team even if they have LeBron James. I could not believe that despite that the Lakers team taking the same Warriors team to the limit in three out of four competitive games last season, they were getting disrespected. The Warriors will handle them with ease, they said. Clearly, they did not watch the tape. The downfall on the Lakers against the Warriors last year was that they didn't have LeBron James nor any gutsy veterans that thrive in big game moments to close games out. Now, they have a plethora of them and we saw a very big difference between this year and last year. The Lakers were more than capable of giving the Warriors a handful. They have the blueprint of countering the Warriors near-invincible "small ball" with a tall and lengthy lineup and to expose them where they're most vulnerable: the paint. Now granted the latter point will change whether or not DeMarcus Cousins gets back to 100%, but the paint has been the achilles heel of the Warriors for a long time. The Lakers exposed that this game and they've successfully executed the anti-Warriors operation to perfection with a resounding victory that hopefully boosts their confidence from here on out.

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Ivica Zubac, 18 points, 11 rebounds, 9-10 shooting, 2 blocks. I'm impressed with Zubac's efforts the last few games. If we remember from last season, he looked like an absolute slouch his sophomore year. He was super slow in terms of quick, lateral movement and reaction time to a play. This season, he looks more conditioned and he's active on both side of the ball. Zubac is just at the right place at the right time, especially in screen and roll action. Let's be clear here, the Warriors without Boogie are vulnerable in the interior and Zubac did one hell of a job to expose that and just flat out dominate in the paint. Defense and rim protection was on point too. The Warriors just couldn't buy a bucket inside as Zubac made them work for it. He absolutely made them work for it and they couldn't get the right angle on the basket. Zubac's performance makes the Center position interesting again, especially once they get JaVale back from illness.

Rajon Rondo, 15 points, 10 assists, 6-11 shooting. Thank goodness Rondo recovered in time from his hand surgery to put up this throwback, virtuoso performance. When LeBron went down, it looked like things were gonna go South for the Lakers. The Warriors just turned a big Laker lead into a 4-point game in the 3rd quarter. I was like "uh-oh, not this again." Rajon Rondo kept the situation under control with his leadership and tenacity as a pure floor general. If he needed to score, he kept attacking the paint. I remember when he was playing with the Celtics, he used to fluster me as a Laker fan when he blew by Derek Fisher and the teeth of the Laker defense then to get to the hoop. That's the same thing that happened tonight and I was on the other end of cheering. Life works in mysterious ways guys. Playoff Rondo came to play tonight.

Lance Stephenson, 11 points, 4-6 shooting, 3 three pointers. Make 'em dance Lance! He made an impact off the bench with a triplet of on-point three pointers. Two of them he connected to balloon the Laker lead. The third one was much needed when the Warriors were going on their typical monster run in the 3rd quarter to put the lead back up by nine points.

Warriors foul trouble. I think getting the Warriors in foul trouble early on was a big difference maker this game, especially getting two out of their big four to sub out early. Draymond Green and Steph Curry had to go out because they committed two fouls early. Green fouled out. He was a non-factor. Steph Curry had 5 fouls. He almost gave us a scare in the third quarter, but luckily he wasn't able to get that much into rhythm with his quick release. LeBron helped trigger most of that contact and why he was able to get most of his points from the free throw line.

(-)

Third quarter. In-game, this was a significant negative. When LeBron went out, the Lakers momentum fizzled out. The Warriors were able to get on a run sparked by Curry's two 3-pointers. The Lakers saw their 15-point lead evaporate into a 4-point game at one point of this quarter. That is until Rondo, Lance, and Ingram came in and settled things down with a couple of buckets.

LeBron James' groin injury. We all know LeBron is the definition of Most Valuable Player because when he's on the floor, he brings a different edge for the team. When he's not there, the team just doesn't know what to do. LeBron awkwardly split his legs and knees while he was diving for a loose ball in the 3rd quarter. According to him, he heard something pop and never returned to the game. He tried stretching it out, but clearly something was bothering him. From what I heard, it's nothing serious. But, groin injuries can be really tough to evaluate, especially when it comes to NBA players. We hope LeBron gets well soon. But how this game went, this should give some confidence to this team that they can step in without his presence.


MVP

Rajon Rondo, 15 points, 10 assists, 6-11 shooting

Lonzo Ball still has a long ways to go to reach like that of Rondo's PG stature. It was tough to choose between either Rondo or Zubac. But, Rondo was the glue to keep this team poised as he controlled the flow of the offense and got players to get on their assignment on defense. As Chris Webber would shout: "RONDOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO...."


Conclusion

Okay back to reality, it's just one game against the Warriors. But this win should have the Lakers' confidence soar at an all-time high. They came into a very hostile crowd, going up against the 2x defending champs. And they took the air out of the building with a very convincing win without the best player in the world for 1 1/2 quarters. If we've been following, consistency is the Lakers' biggest ailment. They beat some of the best teams, but they lose to some inferior teams. Hopefully, this game is a harbinger for the Lakers to build some consistency. They're 33 games into the season now, things should've gotten figured out this game. At the same time, this sends a message that the Lakers are coming back and they will do whatever it takes to regain that status among the NBA's gold standard. This was fun to cover for one night. Given my tight schedule now, I won't be around to do as much open thread and full recap. Hence why I implemented the Weekly Roundup posts. Don't worry, I'm not abandoning the blog. I'm still the following the games. I have a life outside this blog and I couldn't do much as I used to back in the day. But I'm still around. Look for the Weekly Roundup post for this week by next Monday. I will post up an all new chapter of the "Silver and Black Shitshow" by tomorrow night. I can confirm that this week's chapter is the last chapter of that segment. I feel it was only fitting since last night was the last game at the Oakland Coliseum against the Denver Broncos. On top of that, I'll see you guys later.

12/25: NBA Christmas Special - LAKERS @ Warriors 2nd Half Open Thread and Discussion

2nd half open thread of the Lakers-Warriors Christmas Day matchup. As usual, leave a comment below and share your thoughts on the game.

Q4

LAL 127 GSW 101

When it looked like all hope was lost when LeBron went down, in comes Rondo to save the day! Great team effort all-around. Everybody stepped up when needed the most. That third quarter was quite a scare and we're like, yup just another run. But, Rondo played some peacemaker to control the game. Playoff Rondo was in full display. Zubac too contributed. I know it's three games in since he made the start, but we might have ourselves a headache at the center position with Zubac and McGee. What a game. We Laker fans got ourselves a hell of a Christmas present. Stay tuned for the full recap!

Q3

LAL 91 GSW 82

Yes, that LeBron injury changed the whole momentum of the game. The Warriors won that quarter. The Lakers played a little out-of-control this quarter, which was pretty disappointing. It was the moment that the inexperience on this team was starting to show once again against the 2x defending champs. Luckily, Rondo and Ingram stepped up to control the Laker lead down the stretch. Both of them and Kuzma got to pick up the slack as if LeBron is not going to return for the rest of the game. Meanwhile, Lance Stephenson with a huge three to end the quarter helped as well. He continues to have a solid game from deep. 4th quarter without LeBron? Time to gauge the moxie of this young Lakers squad.

12/25: NBA Christmas Special - LAKERS @ Golden State Warriors 1st Half Open Thread and Discussion

Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas! Open thread is back for a day! 1st half of the Lakers-Warriors most anticipated matchup. Leave a comment below and share your thoughts on the game!

Q2

LAL 65 GSW 50

Tremendous half by the Lakers. I'm impressed with the way they controlled the tempo for the majority of this game. You're not going to beat the Golden State Warriors by playing undisciplined basketball. They will beat you. But, the Lakers stayed at home especially on the defensive end and that helped set up the fast paced offense. Even greater, players are stepping up. Lance Stephenson connected on a couple of huge threes to balloon the lead even further. They're feeding Zubac inside the paint. No McGee. Chandler is barely playing. Yet, Zubac is earning his minutes on both ends of the floor. Great start from Kuz and Ingram. Hope we get to see more as they gotta help take pressure off LeBron. But so far, looks like LeBron don't need them to do much as he's having his way against the Warriors. If you're wondering why the Warriors are getting into foul trouble, look no further. LeBron has put up point on the free throw line, which is a major difference. So far, so good against the Warriors. The only negative, Andre Iguodala is stepping up for the Warriors. He's surpisingly off to to a good start with a couple of threes. The Lakers have to do a better job accounting for him on defense when he's about to cut to the basket. We'll live with Iggy having a nice game rather than the combined scoring potency of Curry, Thompson, and Durant. They've had quite a funk this first half. Lakers have to keep pounding this team inside and if an open shot is there, take it. Defensively, stay disciplined and make the Warriors uncomfortable by forcing them to turn the ball over. This is far from over. The Lakers took them to the limit last year and couldn't finish. They have LeBron and a couple of veterans to help in that category this time around hopefully. The second half will open up shortly.

Q1

LAL 32 GSW 25

Great pace from the Lakers this game. When they started with a turnover that set up a KD three, I thought I sense that was going to be a microcosm for this game. But, the Lakers recovered and controlled the pace of the game. Very encouraging to see that B.I., Zo, Kuz, and Hart hit some threes early. Definitely they need to step up to take some pressure off LeBron. Speaking LeBron, he did a great job going to the free throw line early, putting the Warriors in early foul trouble. Draymond and Steph in particular, they were absent midway through the first quarter, which gave the Lakers a big time advantage to build this lead.

Warriors Sweep Cavs to Cap Off Back-to-Back Championships

So, the Golden State Warriors are your 2018 NBA Champions. The Warriors capped off the sweep to win back-to-back titles and three championships in four years. They didn't just beat the Cavs, but they destroyed them on their home floor in a 108-85 rout last night.

For Warriors fans, it was all smiles. But for Cavs fans, that was hard to watch. I was watching the game with a couple of my friends (die-hard Warriors fans) inside St. John's Bar & Grill in Sunnyvale. Of course, there were a lot Warrior fans inside and I was the lone Laker fan there just watching the game as an basketball fan of course. There's no question that this was the most complete game that the Golden State Warriors put together. They put on an absolute clinic on both ends of the floor. Remember when I said in the last recap that Curry is not going to have an off night next game as he did during Game 3? That came true and Steph reminded everyone why he's one of the best shooters in the world. Curry went off for 37 points and connected on 7-15 three-pointers this game. That's when you know that this game was under wraps. On the defensive side, the Warriors threw a block party with Draymond Green, JaVale McGee, and Curry each leading the team with 3 blocks. Andre Iguodala sparked the bench once again with 11 points and including hitting 3-6 from downtown. Nowadays, we rarely see Iggy pull up from three. Klay Thompson struggled, but he was able to knock down some 3-pointers in the third quarter to blow this game wide open for the Warriors.

On the Cleveland Cavaliers' side of the ball, that is one of the most embarrassing performances in the finals since LeBron returned. It's almost as if they threw the white flag, especially in the 3rd quarter when the Warriors started the rout. The defense was almost as bad as Game 3. Offensively, they were jacking up threes. 8-27 from beyond the arc! You're not going to beat Golden State like that, especially when Curry's going off for 37 points. Kevin Love was quiet. Tristan Thompson didn't crash the boards like he did, except making an accidental basket for the Warriors in the 3rd quarter. The Cavs looked defeated out there. LeBron James looked defeated out there. In fact, he almost fouled out of the game. When you saw the replay during the timeout where LeBron lashing out on his teammates in frustration, that's a telltale sign that he is done. He's looking elsewhere to find a team that can surround him with a reliable supporting cast. Because there's no way that the Cavs can build him that kind of team, especially when they took up the big contracts of Clarkson and Thompson who are average at best.

Perhaps the only unpredictable twist we saw in these finals was that KD took the Finals MVP once again. Steph Curry looked like the unanimous favorite to win Finals MVP, but Kevin Durant out of nowhere took the spotlight again. I can tell you, I saw some mixed reactions from Warriors fans when Adam Silver announced the 2018 NBA Finals MVP. Did Curry get robbed out of a Finals MVP? If we compare the stats, Durant shot the ball more efficiently and contributed in other categories. But, the biggest difference was Game 3 when Durant went off for 43 points and Curry went ice cold with 11 points, 3-16 shooting. I feel if Curry didn't have that kind of game in Game 3, it would've been neck-and-neck. But because that game happened, Curry lost all kind of momentum to get that elusive Finals MVP. KD mounted a monstrous comeback after an inefficient Game 1 to deserve Finals MVP honors.

With this win, the Warriors can officially declare themselves a dynasty. Three championship in four years. They could've won four in a row had they not blown a 3-1 lead in 2016 after a remarkable 73-9 season. It is a reminder that they're still the "gold standard" NBA teams look up to and they'll always be the overwhelming favorite as long as their Big 4 and coach Steve Kerr stick around. Oddsmakers currently have them as the favorites to win it all next season as we speak. For the Cavaliers, Cleveland's gotta brace themselves for dark times coming ahead. LeBron James is the hottest name in this year's free agent class and teams are gonna be at odds with each other to be the highest bidder. My Lakers included even though I did say a tandem of LeBron and Lonzo won't work out because of their over-unselfish mentality. But teams are going to want the best player on the planet on their team any day of the week. It's going to be one epic Summer. The Decision III coming soon. Thank you guys for following my coverage of the 2018 NBA Finals. Perhaps next year, we'll have different matchup this time around.

No Game 4 Coverage

Hi guys. As I mentioned in my full recap post in Game 3, I will not be in covering Game 4 today. I will be out with a couple of buddies, but someway we'll catch up on the game. I will provide something similar to my round up commentary posts a day after the game. Will the Warriors wrap up another title in a sweep? Or will the Cavs extend this series to one more game? Hope you guys enjoy the game.

Durant Explodes for 43 Points to Lift Warriors Past Cavs in Game 3

Welcome in to the full recap of Game 3 of the 2018 NBA Finals where the Golden State Warriors yet again take a commanding 3-0 lead over the Cleveland Cavaliers in a 110-102 win.  Kevin Durant breaks the hearts of Cleveland yet again to cap off a stellar 43-point performance.

This was very similar to Game 3 of last year's finals. The Cavs gave the Warriors one heck of a fight, but it wasn't enough as Kevin Durant pulled up from deep to give the Warriors a lead. This year, same results. It was a valiant effort from the Cavs, but Golden State just has too much talent. And the thing is, the Splash Bros had a night off, which I'll get to in a second. But, the luxury of having Kevin Durant bailed the Warriors out and they're one game away from another Larry O'Brien trophy.

Cleveland Cavaliers

(+)

Rodney Hood, 15 points, 6 rebounds, 7-11 shooting. I said it last game, the Cavs have to play Hood to at least provide some scoring spark. They got nothing to lose. And tonight, he was solid coming off the bench. The first two games without Hood, the Cavs' bench was non-existent and this game, he sparked the second unit.

Rebounding/Kevin Love, 20 points, 13 rebounds. As I emphasized countless times, the Cavs have this advantage over the Warriors. At the start of the game, the Cavaliers bullied the Warriors on the boards, especially on the 2nd chance opportunities. Kevin Love accounted for a majority of those offensive boards with 5 rebounds. He was aggressive in terms of both scoring and rebounding, knocking down a couple of threes and being physical inside.

LeBron James, 33 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists. Triple-double for LeBron. Regardless, he's gonna be on positive for the Cavs since this team starts and ends with him. James once more provided some really nice balance with the scoring and facilitating. He played some outstanding bully-ball on the break, easily overpowering guys like Livingston and Curry when they're caught on the switch.

(-)

Defensive lapses. Everybody will point to Kevin Durant's 43 points as to why the Cavs lost, but in detail, defensive lapses was the primary reason why they loss. They did a nice job locking down Curry. There's no question about that. But, if you look through the comments section of the open threads, the Warriors were dishing out nice passes to a cutting Jordan Bell or a JaVale McGee or a Draymond Green for an easy dunk/layup. Too many times, the Cavs got caught sleeping on those plays or miscommunicated on where the help should come from. Other times, they got overaggressive on the double-team or gamble at the worst possible. I mean who leaves a 1-13 Steph Curry open for a dagger three before KD's dagger? The defensive effort was decent, but way too much miscommunication.

Golden State Warriors

(+)

Kevin Durant, 43 points, 13 rebounds, 7 assists, 15-23 shooting. Dear Golden State Warriors fans, this why almost everybody in the NBA circle hates you. Curry and Thompson had an off night, but then again, this is the luxury of having one of the more prolific scorers in the NBA right now. One-on-one, the Cavs played the best defense they could play against KD, but he was just too good from deep and from mid range. He also did damage as a facilitator as well. This game was deja vu from last year's Game 3 where Durant pulled up from deep to give the Warriors the lead and the eventual 3-0 lead. He gave Cleveland nightmares once again with the same exact shot, except it was deeper beyond the arc and it allowed Golden State to grind out this game.

JaVale McGee, 10 points, 5-7 shooting. Quality minutes, quality production from McGee once again. McGee being on the floor rather than Looney has done wonders for the Warriors.

Jordan Bell, 10 points, 6 rebounds. The Warriors got some nice, quality production out of Jordan Bell off the bench tonight. He made some timely cuts for the ball to come to him for easy dunks/layups. In fact, he's the 2nd-leading rebounder for this team behind Durant.

(-)

Stephen Curry, 11 points, 3-16 shooting. From nine threes in Game 2 to this dud from Curry. All credit to the Cavs defense though. They played Curry tough from beyond-the-arc. Trapping him, closing him out, you name it. Not to mention, he was in early foul trouble. He pulled it out when it mattered the most though. Overall, still a bad game from Curry and I'm sure he's going to make some adjustments.

Klay Thompson, 10 points, 4-11 shooting. The Splash Bros were a no-show this game and Klay struggled as well. Though, he didn't play half as bad as Curry did tonight.

Conclusion

Well, same narrative as last year. This series is O-V-E-R. There's not much the Cavs can do to get back into this series. They're overmatched in terms of star power and depth. It's just not even a fair fight at this point. But who knows? The Cavs put up 137 points last year in an elimination game, but no Kyrie Irving this time around and LeBron doesn't have much help around him outside of Kevin Love. You can bank on the Splash Bros shaking off this game and coming out firing on all cylinders the next game. They have a knack to bounce back. Kevin Durant is way too OP on the offensive end. Next game could be LeBron's last game in Cleveland as Cavalier with all the speculation as to where he's going to go as a free agent. LeBron might go out guns blazing, but it won't be enough. Regardless, if the Cavs win Game 4, the Warriors wouldn't be mad as they would prefer celebrating a championship on their home floor. We'll see what happens. As for me, there's a high chance I'm gonna miss Game 4. I'm gonna be out and about with a couple of buddies on that Friday, but we'll still catch the game someway. But, I'm still gonna provide my thoughts on after the game regardless if the Warriors sweep or the Cavs extend the series. I'll see you guys later.

2018 NBA Finals: Cavs-Dubs IV - Game 3 2nd Half Open Thread and Discussion

2nd half open thread of Game 3 of the 2018 NBA Finals. As usual, leave a comment below and share your thoughts as it rolls on.

Q4

GSW 110 CLE 102

They did again to Cleveland. Specifically, Kevin Durant did it again to Cleveland. The Cavs started off strong out of the gate and gave the Warriors all kinds of fits. But, Golden State just too good and just too many weapons on the floor. Back to Durant, he hits the same dagger to Cleveland as the shot clock expires to extend the lead for the Warriors 106-100 down the stretch of this quarter. This was an ugly game for the Warriors if you look at it, but a masterful performance from one of the best scorers in the game helped minimize the blemish and the team is now one win away from a third championship in four years. More to come in the full recap.

Q3

GSW 83 CLE 81

Great turnaround from the Warriors this quarter and Kevin Durant is having quite a game. He was completely unguardable throughout the majority this quarter. Not only is he doing it as the scorer that he is, but as a facilitator. He found Draymond Green for easy dunks on two occasions while the Warriors were running the fast break. JaVale McGee also provided a spark for the Warriors to start the quarter. But, the Cavs are still hanging around though. They started to get themselves to the free throw line, which I said they need to do more in during the first half post. Tight game. The 4th quarter is being set up for a strong finish.

2018 NBA Finals: Cavs-Dubs IV - Game 3 1st Half Open Thread and Discussion

The series shifts to Cleveland! This is the 1st half open thread of Game 3 of the 2018 NBA Finals. Leave a comment below and share your thoughts on the game as it rolls on.

Q2

GSW 52 CLE 58

Wow. Cavs running away with this one in the quarter, but Kevin Durant says "not so fast" with 24 points for the Warriors. The big lead that was built from Cleveland this quarter was set up by good balance from the Cavs. Outside of LeBron, Kevin Love and J.R. Smith are in double figures. This was a nice quarter from K-Love overall. He's knocking down timely threes, scoring inside, and crashing offensive boards to give the Cavs some second chance opportunities. Speaking of boards, Cleveland outmuscled Golden State. If I remember hearing correctly, they have 27 total rebounds compared to Golden State's 15. Again, they're using that strength to bully the Warriors inside. Rodney Hood provided a good spark offensively for the Cavaliers with 6 points. I said it in last game, they have to play Hood as he's a better option than JC at this point and so far, the aforementioned 6 points off the bench. LeBron didn't have to do that much, which is a good sign as he's able to balance scoring and facilitating. The only blemish is that the Cavs don't have a trip to the free throw line yet. With the points inside and crashing the boards, you'd think they'd draw the Warriors in foul trouble. Hasn't been the case during the first half and that helps Golden State hang around. The Warriors are drawing contact on their end to get to the free throw line to go along with KD's 24-point performance at the half. The scary part is that Steph Curry and Klay Thompson haven't hit their strides. Also, Curry's in foul trouble with 3 fouls at the half. Perhaps the Cavs need to go harder to get those trips from the free throw line. Defensively, they're generating some turnovers, which they need to continue to do if they want to win this game and get back in this series. The 2nd half will open up shortly.

Q1

GSW 28 CLE 29

Strong finish by the Warriors to cap off the quarter. They started down 4-14. The Cavs were more aggressive and more physical to start to this game. Kevin Love opened things up with a three-pointer. LeBron and Tristan Thompson ate Golden State's defense alive from the inside, scoring and crashing the boards. But quickly, the Warriors flipped the script during those last few minutes. Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant knocked down the team's first two threes after starting ice cold from deep to help set up the run to cut Cleveland's lead to just one point.