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There’s only one thing in the minds of the Los Angeles Lakers: making the NBA Finals and winning the Larry O’Brien trophy for themselves. However, they also understand that they have a mountain to climb after taking down the New Orleans Pelicans in the play-in tournament.
Their first-round opponents don’t get much easier. The Denver Nuggets are the first major hurdle they have to overcome, and Nikola Jokic is already promising to be a tough matchup problem for the Lakers.
While there are narratives surrounding the upcoming seven-game duel between the two ball clubs, LeBron James called for calmer heads as the Purple and Gold prepare for a tough matchup that the entire Los Angeles roster must be ready for.
LeBron James thinks the coverage of the Los Angeles Lakers-Denver Nuggets series is overblown
Hunter Hodies of The Spun talked about James’ take on the entire media circus surrounding the two sides before a minute of playoff basketball was even played:
“I think you’re putting a little bit too much emphasis on it,” James said, via ESPN. “This is our first-round matchup. I mean, we’re looking forward to the postseason. But I haven’t been, like, looking forward to the rematch. The game is played how it’s being played, and this is the matchup. So we’re looking forward to that challenge.”
The last time these two teams met in the playoffs was during last year’s Western Conference Finals. The Lakers pulled off incredible performances over the Memphis Grizzlies and Golden State Warriors.
It seemed like the Purple and Gold were destined to make the Finals. but the Nuggets outclassed them as they lost the series, 1-4. They couldn’t find any answer to Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Michael Porter Jr.
The three regular-season games the Lakers played also went the same way. Despite both James and Anthony Davis doing everything they could, they just couldn’t get past the Nuggets as they lost the season series, 0-3.
It will be tough for the Purple and Gold to sneak past the Nuggets. James, Davis, and the rest of the Lakers roster need to step up their game if they want to have any shot at making the second round of this year’s playoffs.
More must-reads:
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- The 'Highest career PPG in the playoffs' quiz
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