Prior to the suspension of the 2019-20 NBA season, the Los Angeles Lakers were one of the top favorites to win the title. Apart from winning games that they're supposed to win, the Purple and Gold managed to eke out victories over contenders.
Now, according to veteran forward Jared Dudley, the 2019-20 season was the Lakers' “best chance” to win the NBA title.
Speaking with Michael Lee of The Athletic, Dudley believes that “everything was set up” for them this season. He noted how the Lakers could've caught up with the Milwaukee Bucks and claim homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs.
“Even if we win the championship next year, that’s not saying this would not have been our best chance. This would have been our best chance to win, even if you go into the future. The optics and everything was set up. We’re going to have homecourt and we don’t know how it would’ve been. Milwaukee might lose a few more games. We might have caught them. Probably most likely not, but you just don’t know. The momentum we were carrying going into it, it’s hard to repeat that,” The Lakers vet said.
Dudley also noted the performance of LeBron James' teams in the past. Whether or not they played up to par in the regular season or not, LeBron managed to carry his team in the postseason.
“You see LeBron James teams. He’s had teams that were No. 1. He’s also had teams that slipped up in the regular season and then caught wind in the playoffs. You don’t know next year, we may be the three seed. Yeah, we may beat these other teams in the playoffs, but it’s a lot easier when you have homecourt throughout,” Jared Dudley added.
As of writing, the NBA hasn't decided on whether they will continue the season or not. There are rumors that the 2019-20 season might be canceled, but there are also whispers that the league is actively looking for a venue to hold closed-door games.
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