The Los Angeles Lakers came into the year as favorites to repeat as NBA champions after they added Dennis Schroder, Montrezl Harrell, and Marc Gasol. The injury of Anthony Davis might prevent them from getting the top seed, however.
The Lakers are still a force and with a healthy Davis in the playoffs, they should still be the favorites, despite what some people say. LeBron James is playing at an MVP-caliber level and Kyle Kuzma has arguably been the third-best player on this Lakers team.
Going back to last season, they faced the Portland Trail Blazers, Houston Rockets, and Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference playoffs before beating the Miami Heat in six games in the 2020 NBA Finals.
Looking ahead to this postseason and the outlook of the West looks much, much different. The Phoenix Suns are contenders, the Dallas Mavericks have dipped low, and the Rockets and Blazers might struggle to make the playoffs.
Needless to say, the Lakers will remain one of the favorites, even if Davis is out for a month or two.
With the season approaching the halfway mark and teams starting to make their ascension, what would be their easiest path to an NBA title in 2021 for the Lakers?
Quarterfinals: Memphis Grizzlies
In all honesty, none of these lower seeds are going to give the Lakers any issues. A week ago the Lakers were trailing by 20 to the Grizzlies but make no mistake, that was a rare slip-up.
The Grizzlies don't really have any player except for Ja Morant that can give the Lakers a tough time. LeBron and AD can have their way with them pretty easily and shouldn't take more than five games to get to the next round.
Jonas Valanciunas is the only other Memphis player that might cause some trouble, but other than that, not too much of a worry for the Lakers.
Semifinals: Dallas Mavericks
The Mavericks aren't the same team as they were last season by any means. Luka Doncic is still playing at a high level, but other than that they have been a massive disappointment. Through the first chunk of the year, they are under .500, although that's probably going to change at some point.
A healthy Anthony Davis is too much for Kristaps Porzingis and the Dallas bench isn't very good unless they find a way to make a trade. Even if Doncic gets hot, it will come down to Davis and James and the Mavs have no way of stopping them.
Conference Finals: Utah Jazz
The Jazz, really? Yes, the Jazz.
The two Los Angeles teams seemed destined for a Western Conference Finals matchup last season before the Clippers' 3-1 collapse sent the Nuggets to the West Finals. Ultimately, the Lakers dodged a bullet.
The Clippers are really good, and with a healthy Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, they can push the Lakers to a seven-game series easily.
The Jazz are a good team and tops in the Western Conference. However, their shooting won't sustain itself and still, nobody on the Jazz team can guard LeBron James. Rudy Gobert is a problem for Utah but Davis is one of the best defenders in the league also.
Harrell and Schroder can cause problems rather easily and Alex Caruso proved to be one of the best defenders in the playoff run last year and would be tasked with guarding Donovan Mitchell.
This really comes down to the Lakers avoiding the Clippers at all costs.
NBA Finals: Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks were the favorites in the East last season before stumbling and falling to the Heat in the East Finals. The Lakers would love to face the Bucks in the Finals over the Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers.
Joel Embiid is a problem and having a terrific season and Ben Simmons is a potential All-Star selection. As for the Nets, the trio of James Harden, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden will be a lot for the Lakers to handle as far as their scoring ability is concerned.
Giannis is still a fantastic player and so is Khris Middleton. Jrue Holiday has played well for the Bucks and Bobby Portis has been one of the best steals of the free agency period. However, their depth is severely lacking and the Bucks' second unit against the Lakers isn't remotely close.
The entire world wants to see Nets and Lakers in the finals, but the Lakers would love to see the Bucks, which is weird to say.
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