As the NBA playoffs approach, analysts and executives are closely evaluating the Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, and other contenders in the Western Conference. The Lakers stand out with their unique approach, compensating for a lack of a traditional center by leveraging exceptional positional size throughout their roster. Meanwhile, the Warriors aim to secure a top-six seed following a recent trade, while the Memphis Grizzlies and Denver Nuggets face scrutiny as they navigate their playoff strategies.
In fairness to the Lakers, they’ve done well even without a traditional center. Their lineup features a lethal combination of size and skill. At 6-foot-5, Austin Reaves is a player who brings up the title of the smallest player on the court in games. Next to him, the 6-foot-2 Gabe Vincent and 6-foot-4 Jordan Goodwin are the shortest players on the regular roster. This height advantage allows the Lakers to effectively execute their perimeter-based offensive scheme, which aligns well with their roster’s strengths.
As one West executive noted, the Lakers’ shifting adaptability is very much dependent on the matchup. After that, it’s just rock-paper-scissors.
In stark relief, the other half of this year’s matchup, the Golden State Warriors, look to reclaim their championship glory. Head coach Steve Kerr declared their goal of a top-six seed after the midseason, franchise-altering trade for Jimmy Butler. The Warriors’ success historically relied on positional size, raising questions about whether their current small-ball approach can yield similar results. An East executive commented on this strategy: “There’s always time for small ball but their championship teams had positional size.”
The Memphis Grizzlies have had their own struggles. Since the All-Star break, they’ve been below average offensively, ranking 17th, and defensively, 18th. By making gun gestures after in-game plays, Ja Morant has instigated plenty of media backlash and given cause for concern about his preparedness for playoff intensity. An East executive said, “They’re placing a bet on Ja to be the dude he was 2.5 years ago. The whole world is eagerly anticipating his return, but he hasn’t returned yet.”
Just last week the Denver Nuggets were in the news for firing head coach Michael Malone during what has been a horrible start to the season. This decision follows dramatic personnel changes that have left fans questioning the team’s direction as they prepare for the postseason.
At the same time, the Los Angeles Clippers emerged as a fearsome contender. Ever since March 1st, Kawhi Leonard has been on a torrid pace. He is currently averaging over 25 points on over 50% shooting overall and over 40% shooting from deep. An executive expressed confidence in the Clippers, stating, “I think they’re really good. Zubac is so underrated. People haven’t talked about how good he’s been.”
As the playoffs begin, all interested parties will be watching to see how these teams handle the high-pressure postseason environment. Importance of winning the frontcourt battle The Lakers need to leverage their size advantage. On the flip side, the Warriors must develop a long-term plan that honors their championship history. On one side, the Grizzlies and Morant’s continued emergence will be big, on the other, the Nuggets need to get their footing after a tumultuous offseason.
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