NBA – Los Angeles Lakers Los Angeles, X Factor of Denver Nuggets: the 5 big questions of the playoffs in the west

The lack of balance between interiors and exterior as well as the absence of a protective circle pivot in Los Angeles were quickly pointed out following the transfer of Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks in the exchange of Luka Doncic. It is true that the Lakers do not have a large dominant on one side or the other of the prosecution. Jaxson Hayes being the holder at post five. But the Californians are not small! On the contrary ! Their size is one of the major advantages of this workforce. LeBron James, Rui Hachimura or even Doncic are all rather great for their position. Austin Reaves (1.96 m) is the smallest in the major five.

This physical advantage often tips the meetings in favor of the Lakers. It is also interesting to emphasize that they display a better defensive rating after the trade, despite the loss of Davis, one of the best defenders in the League. Los Angeles will find in the first round such a rather large opponent, Minnesota, and the players of duty that are Hachimura, Dorian Finney-Smith, Gabe Vincent and possibly Jared Vanderbilt will have a major role to play to play the rebounds and in defense.

It was already the question for Minneapolis last year. It did not prevent the wolves from going to the conference finals. Except that there was Karl-Anthony Towns to ensure more than twenty points per game. Julius Randle, who replaces him post for post, will have a major impact on this series against Los Angeles. Not only in defense on LeBron James but especially in attack, to support Anthony Edwards. The latter is perhaps the only one who can really create a danger in hand in Minnesota, where the Lakers rely on three elite playmakers between James, Doncic and Reaves.

The American superstar could quickly feel lonely. His team is rather deep, but not in this important aspect of the game. The Timberwolves will need to find solutions to score points. They can try to serve Rudy Gobert inside, especially at the start of the game, hoping to cause an adjustment from the Lakers, not necessarily the most provided below. The Frenchman has finished the season well, especially in attack (19 points on average on the last 10 games). But there has never been a coach – rightly or wrongly – who dared to regularly feed the quadruple Dpoy with balloons.

Especially since Gobert will be targeted on the other side of the prosecution. Doncouic and Reaves will want to cause switches to keep it away from the circle and gain speed. For the same reasons, Mike Conley, the only team manager, risks seeing his playing time limited. The Wolves may also be tempted to play “Small Ball”, with Naz Reid in pivot, to try to boost their attack. They have some options. But undoubtedly not enough to reproduce the course of last year.

The Playoffs have not yet officially started but the Warriors have already played two matches which did not look like the regular season: the first against the Clippers, to determine their place in the ranking, and the second Tuesday evening against the grizzly greeks. A play-in-in-house round, after the defeat against Los Angeles, therefore, to ensure seventh place. Two crucial meetings in which Jonathan Kuminga remained completely stuck on the bench. Zero minute spent on the ground.

Steve Kerr has already defined his rotation for the playoffs and he does not currently intend to include the seventh choice of the Draft 2021. He has not found him a role. Kuminga (15 points on average this season) can sometimes duplicate Jimmy Butler. Like him, he does not necessarily stretch the lines due to a lack of three-point success and needs the ball to play his insulation. Except that Butler is just better than him. The young winger may eventually play, if the back All-Star or Draymond Green takes mistakes. Or if Golden State needs an adjustment in the series. But it is a shame that a talent like Jonathan Kuminga, that the franchise has always refused to trade, finds itself stuck on the bench while the Warriors face the Rockets and would really need the athletic potential of the Congolese. But Kerr probably never really trusted him.

His presence at the kick -off of the playoffs was uncertain. Jamal Murray finally came back at the end of the season from her ischios injury. It is probably not 100%, or at least not completely in the rhythm, but it is there. Nuggets will cruelly need him, as in the heroic campaign of 2023. Except that the Canadian showed several different faces from the coronation. It has sometimes been very good, as was the case for a good part of the season, and sometimes transparent to the point of penalizing his team.

The first round against the Clippers represents a hell of a challenge for him. The Californian training will send Kris Dunn to coal on him, one of the best external defenders in the League. She can also hinder him with larger and stronger wingers than him like Kawhi Leonard, Nicolas Batum, Derrick Jones JR, etc. Murray will have to answer present, under penalty of leaving a Nikola Jokic far too alone in the control of the tempo. The minutes without the Serbian are always essential (and catastrophic) for Denver and the leader will be the first option in his situations. Without a large Jamal Murray, the Nuggets will not pass the first round.

No one believed in the clippers and it is difficult to prove all those who were pessimistic about the chances of the Hollywood training this season. They lost Paul George last summer after five years when they failed to reach the finals despite clearly assumed title desires. Kawhi Leonard missed more than half of the season. And yet, did not sunk. Far from it. The Clippers won 50 games under the orders of an exceptional James Harden. They finally asserted themselves as serious candidates once Leonard returned in shape.

This team is one of two or three best in the league from the All-Star Weekend station wagon. 119.7 points scored on 100 possessions (fourth NBA) and 111.4 collected (seventh) over the period. With an elite trio to wear the team. Harden therefore, but also Ivica Zubac and Leonard. Zubac is an incredible pivot, one of the rare capable of braking a little Jokic in one-of-one without making too many mistakes. With his presence, the Californians will not have to double too frequently on the triple (quadruple?) MVP and can partly prevent him from making his teammates shine. As for Kawhi Leonard, he has probably not been so sharp since 2021. Or even 2019. Even since the Spurs in defense. It seems strong physically, dominant. It is perhaps when they were no longer seen coming that the clippers will go the furthest.