yeah, that's why my expectations are low--new team and lebron is definitely still injured (as is AD). the bucks just lost in part because giannis was compromised, and lebron's hurt worse than that, imo. this is why i'm optimistic even if we don't manage to pull this series out. we have the makings of a team that can win games in the regular season without riding the stars to death, which gives us a better chance being strong and healthy for this time of year. also might help us get home court and/or an easier first round matchup, too.
I don't like to express such thoughts as this: the league would LOVE GSW/Lakers. (Because it implies there might be a fix in; nevertheless, if play is on the up-and-up - and it better be! - I think the NBA would love it.) That said, I'm with abeer here: at the All Star Break, 5 games below .500, if you told me the Lakers would be on the verge of eliminating MEM in the first round, I'd have said...what strain are you smokin'?, 'cuz I wanna try somma that jit! And HELL to the yea: Let's close it out TONIGHT! I want us to go to the Finals at least. And yet: my "all star break" comment holds. I'm glad we turned it around so quickly, drastically, Brick is dust, and we have a Top 5 Defensive team. I'm really thinking about next year. Finally, I hope to be watching a subdued Ja talk at the podium later tonight about what a great group of guys he got to play with this year, etc, etc, blah blah blah. I hope for nothing but the worst for Dillon Brooks.
No excuses. Need to play D better than any other game in the series. Box out. Get them in foul trouble. We need to hit 12 or more 3s.
Can't lose this one. Gotta win it for Jack! I do find it funny that he saw one game of Russ in person and was like He didn't return until the stench of him was long gone.
So, assuming we actually win this game (and it's certainly looking good so far), our second round would include: C Bags vs 76ers: Pretty much an East classic. They've had tons of series against each other. Wilt vs Bill, Dr.J vs Larry, Pierce vs Iverson, Tatum vs Embiid... you name it. Heat vs Knicks: A 90s classic. Seeing these teams against each others feels like going back to the 90s, although that's partly because the Knicks have sucked for years Lakers vs Kings: An early 00s classic. We owned them, but they were an amazing team back then. Again, really feel like going back to early 00s mainly because the Kings have been absolutely horrendous since then until now. Of course, we still don't know if we'll be going against the Kings in the 2nd round, but it would be fun. Kinda cool to reminisce a bit about past decades.
