The Western Conference post-season is about to tip off and the top-seeded Los Angeles Lakers will have to go through the eight-seeded Portland Trail Blazers in the first round.

The Lakers enjoy a 2-1 regular-season series advantage over Portland but if there's one thing that the Blazers have successfully proven these past few weeks in Orlando, it's that they are on a different level inside the bubble. Something Lakers starting center Anthony Davis said that the team is primarily focused on as they prepare for an interesting duel in the first round.

On paper, the 52-19 Lakers appear to have the upper hand against the Portland Trail Blazers. The Lakers successfully clinched the top spot in the West inside the bubble just a few games in and had the privilege of experimenting on a few lineup combinations and easing in their newcomers. On the other hand, the Blazers had a rather challenging road en route to a seventh straight playoff appearance. They had to make every seeding game count and earned a slot for a play-in game against the Memphis Grizzlies to barely make it to the post-season. And in some cases, a tough journey only makes a team stronger and hungrier.

RECOMMENDED (Article Continues Below)
lebron james nikola jokic

Michael Corvo ·

Austin Reaves, D’Angelo Russell and Rui Hachimura with the Lakers arena in the background, Gabe Vincent Nuggets NBA Playoffs

David Yapkowitz ·

Magic Johnson holding a coaching board with the faces of D'Angelo Russell, Gabe Vincent, Austin Reaves and D'Angelo Russell on it. LeBron James looking serious

Angelo Guinhawa ·

Though the Lakers enjoy the regular-season series advantage, Davis knows that the bubble-Blazers have been a different beast. Since their last match-up in January (which the Blazers won 127-119), Portland has only gotten better. Due to the long NBA hiatus, starting center Jusuf Nurkic has been able to join the squad and has been nothing but huge for the Blazers. In just eight games, the Bosnian has averaged 17.6 points per game, 10.3 rebounds and two blocks. Something Davis, and the rest of the Lakers frontcourt, are definitely keeping their eyes on.

With bubble-MVP Damian Lillard leading the way, look for the Blazers to compete and give the Lakers a run for their money. Lakers and Blazers start their series on Tuesday.