FIRST TAKE | Lakers are a LEGIT threat in the West! – Stephen A. on LeBron-less, LA win over Bucks

FIRST TAKE | Lakers are a LEGIT threat in the West! – Stephen A. on LeBron-less, LA win over Bucks

Up like Jaylen Williams yeah it’s nice not to have Friendly Fire amongst your friends uh in the studio let’s say per chance good morning D loading as we’re out of the gates with the Bucks and the Lakers there’s no LeBron in this one Brian wior said it’s ankle tendonitis you see what

Anthony Davis does when Braun isn’t in the game Bobby poris getting that full Anthony Davis treatment you could say that poris was brow beaten as Anthony Davis went for 22 points and 13 rebounds right because he’s the I like I like things you have to explain dard Dame

Lillard that net splashed so hard it almost turned inside itself that three moving Lillard pass Reggie Miller for the fourth most threes alltime bucks with Trail by four at the break let’s go now to the fourth let’s go to business time it’s business time there’s D’Angelo

Russell 43 yes Lakers go up five he had 21 in the fourth quarter most by any Laker in any quarter this season Yannis though had 34 points 14 rebounds 18 30 point triple double it passes Larry and magic for the eighth most all time Yannis passing to Dame there’s a lot of

Contact three and the foul I got a four-point play bucks are up six here come the Lakers it’s DLo again D’Angelo How Does it Feel his ninth three of the night it ties a career high and then we got a floater in the bag as well what

You got in that bag 44 points it’s his most as a Laker the Lakers go up one 5 seconds left inbounding now we need a defensive stop who’s going to get it spenc D witty Spencer D did it blocks Dane Lillard at the buzzer they look at

It wow see if any more time had to come on very clearly very cleanly a block and that is how the Lakers hang on 123 to 122 what a game D’Angelo Russell went more than six years between 40p point games with the Lakers his other was back

In March of 2017 it’s the second longest Gap with the same franchise in NBA history second longest Gap with the same franchise in NBA history a pair of Hall of Famers on either side of that Braun did it with the Knicks Arizon did it with the Warriors and speaking of the Knicks it’s

Great to talk with our NBA analyst Scott Perry and Scott there’s no LeBron and there’s no problem for the Lakers which storyline stands out more here D’Angelo Russell going for 44 or Spencer Den witty blocking Dame to seal this win yeah absolutely D’Angelo Russell 44o night is the

Storyline here tonight and here’s why look LeBron James is out with an ankle injury D’Angelo Russell takes it upon himself to lead his team by scoring 44 points while handing out nine assists his focus and his Poise were excellent throughout the night and I thought his teammates really fed off his performance

The entire evening then he gets into the LAN at the end of the game to make that decisive floater which sets up that tremendous defensive play and block by Spencer dwy look guys D’Angelo has been playing very consistent basketball since the beginning of February and if the

Lakers want to improve their position in the Western Conference standings he’s going to have to continue playing this level of basketball to to make sure that the Lakers are relevant going down the stretch all right Scott thank you l play the te wolves tomorrow on ESPN Scott

Back in a little Gary hey we have the Lakers facing off that that we came from no LeBron James we have the Lakers facing off uh against the Milwaukee Bucks in the second game of our double header here on ESPN when you look at the matchups CH that the Lakers could

Potentially draw in those top four seeds in the Western Conference in a seven game series in the playoffs is there any team that you like the Lakers chances against what a mean question is there I feel like any team other than the Denver Nuggets the Lakers will feel

Good about because if you look at the o yeah well the Clippers too the OKC Thunder right they they have issues interior with the front Court that’s where LeBron James scores his points that’s where ad is right now we just follow the news the last two days of

Carl Anthony towns being back you know out so you look at that matchup too they might see that as favorable and I’ll say this as much as the Lakers are locked into the play in right now because you know below them is 10th and there’s like

A six game span from there and above them they need to win like four games to try to get out of the play and into the playoffs I don’t want to play LeBron James in a you know first round series we’ve seen what he does for big games

Now I am worried about his health right being out tonight that’s going to be difficult to see if he’s going to be able to keep it going but the Lakers I don’t think they fear anyone if as long as they have their guys out there maybe except the nuggets and probably a little

Bit the Clippers I mean everyone fears the Nugget yeah as they should right I mean look I I think when you look at the Lakers they’re not necessarily constru as a great regular season team to do that with the players they have over an 82 game schedule is going to be

Difficult but in the playoffs when you have Anthony Davis LeBron James and the way that they can play defense when they all are collected and they’re on a string they’re a tough out for anybody but that interior presence with those two guys is very difficult except against the teams you mentioned Denver

Dugas the Minnesota timberwol yeah I agree with the with the panel here in the sense of I don’t think they fear anybody except for the Denver Nuggets um I also don’t want to play against them fully loaded so if you even have to take a couple steps back here because you

Know you can’t really climb the ladder in order to be healthy cuz if there’s one thing at the end of the day what you want to be going into these things is healthy you want to be in and you want to be healthy and after that you know

What you roll the bones and you go out there and play but I don’t want to play the that’s the dance they’re playing with LeBron James right now right this is just normal wear and tear on a 39-year-old ankle that he’s had issues with the entire season and he’s just got

To pick his spots in a game where if you’re not not feeling 100% then maybe you give it this game and stay and and be healthy for Sunday against Minnesota but that’s that’s the place where they are because they don’t they don’t have any games to waste here and yet they

Have to pick their spot withk you the Los Angeles Lakers have the eighth toughest remaining schedule and this stretch which we’ve said has been a home stand all 11 games they have at home with the exception of the Kings going up north Milwaukee Minnesota Sacramento Golden State that’s all loading for them

So not having LeBron James even though they can weather the storm for one night it’s going to be hard moving forward to try to build some momentum all right Stephen I’m going to start with you on this one do you think the Lakers are a

Legit threat in the west no not at this particular moment in time and the reason why is because I was just in La Saturday uh uh JJ you still be there you know what I’m saying you you were you were there you know doing a great job calling

Game by the way congratulations you darb Mike bre and all that other stuff you look so happy you look so happy JJ I mean sh Shay he was he was there I was there and we saw the Lakers once again fall to the Rain defending NBA champion

Devon nuggets can’t beat him lost eight straight how am I supposed to consider you a serious threat when the reigning defending NBA champions continuously abuses you at every turn I understand that the Lakers could beat almost anybody else I get that part and I guess because of that you can label them a

Contender per se a legitimate threat in the west I just don’t feel that way I’m not sold on them right now and I could be wrong I understand that but I just don’t feel like I’m too sold on them right now even though I look at them

Last night and you beat Shay gild just Alexander who didn’t have the greatest game and the gold in the Oklahoma City Thunder I’m looking at them I know you what you’ve done against the Clippers this particular regular season but I’ve seen the deficits that you’ve come back

From I’m I just look at the Lakers and I find myself saying JJ and Shay I’m like yo they they can ball I get it they can’t beat the Denver Nuggets that’s their cryptonite and to me that’s the measuring stick for me I just look at get them against Denver and to lose

Eight straight to the Denver Nuggets is just bothersome for me and if we’re talking about a legitimate threat while a reigning defending NBA champions are in the west you got to go through them and you’ve shown no willingness or ability to beat them that’s where I’m at

With it guys so let me ask you a question are there seven other teams like the Denver Nuggets now they beaten OKC Thunder who’s the number one seed going into last night before they lost to the Lakers now the Minnesota uh Timberwood excuse me okay C Thunder was

The number one C now it’s the now it’s the timber was having won last night and OKC lost they beaten OKC three times in four meetings they went on the road and beat the Boston Celtics in the Boston Garden minus LeBron James they beat Utah without LeBron James so now they beat

The Clippers down 21 and they’re not a threat they still have two top 10 players ad when ad is on and he was on last night doing what he does LeBron James goes without standing we don’t need to say anything about him how can you say that they can’t beat obviously

The Denver Nuggets is a different animal they seem to have have their number but are you telling me in a seven game series they can’t beat OKC that they can’t beat the Clippers they can’t beat some of these did that make him a threats D I

Just I I just told you I told you I was leaning on Denver I’m just so focused on the fact that they lost eight straight to the reigning defending Champion makes me lose faith in them but I’m not making I’m not disputing anything that you’re saying about anybody

Else that’s why because of the way they played against OKC and we know what OKC represents they were the number one seed going into last night do I believe they can beat Minesota in four in a series absolutely do I believe they can beat the Clippers absolutely with DLo playing

With DLo playing like he’s played since the trade since all the stuff about the trade they absolutely and this starting lineup with Ru haimour they absolutely are a threat in the west yes I believe they are we know what Denver does to them and hey that’s a different animal

Ad is going to have to step his game up and probably give you 30 and 15 on a nightly basis but hell we saw him give you 40 they still lost so Denver might be a different animal but I still believe they are a threat in the west

Because I believe in a series they can beat other every other team not Nam the Denver Nuggets look as of right now I don’t I don’t view the Lakers as a legit threat in the west but let me preface all of my points by saying one thing if you’re a

Top four team in the western conference right now there isn’t an easy first round matchup regardless of how seeds 5 through eight shake out all 10 teams right now in the Western Conference that are that are in the play playoff or playin hunt right now are legit basketball teams they are good

Basketball teams we’ve seen the turnaround from the Golden State Warriors since Draymond Green came back and they they inserted Jonathan kaminga in the starting lineup they went small the Lakers season as it pertains to them has turned around because of three-point shooting they are still not a good

Defensive team it starts with that for me they are not a good defensive team and if you look at their starting lineup you go through a first round series a potential second round series a potential Conference Finals who is their who is their wing stopper you say Jared

Vvol that’s great their season turned around because of three-point shooting so now you’re sacrificing your offense what has helped turn your season around if you’re playing Jared Vanderbilt big minutes you go down the stretch of that game against the Denver Nuggets this is what concerns me Austin Reeves D’Angelo

Russell at the point of the attack I think those guys have competed they are just not great perimeter Defenders so now of a sudden you go through again multiple Series in the Western Conference you’re asking LeBron James like he did in the fourth quarter against the Clippers last week to guard

Kawh Leonard for seven games that’s asking a lot of LeBron James plus all the stuff he has to do offensively I’m not I’m not an overreaction person to one game and I I know they won the season series 3-1 against the Oklahoma City Thunder Oklahoma City had had a

Tough game Sunday night in Phoenix then they turn around and they’ve got to play the Lakers on a back-to-back they had the worst shooting first half of their entire season they are a legit threat I think Minnesota’s a legit threat I think the Clippers are a legit threat but we can

Sort of stop the entire conversation when we talk about them winning the Western Conference the Lakers winning the Western Conference because of what Stephen A said I do not think that was that was Denver Nuggets but see why do you why do people make all these concessions oh it was a

Tough backto back it was a this or that you make concession I’ll let you speak I I know you always you do a great job of contextualizing but let me speak the problem the problem that I have with you and others is that you make concessions

For every other team in the west not name the Lakers if the Lakers had lost on a back toback you would have said they’re all and tired well let me ask you this who are Phoenix Wing stoppers on the on the defensive end we saw LeBron hunt kawh Leonard we saw LeBron

James do what he did who’s going to guard LeBron James for the Clippers who’s going to guard LeBron James LeBron J LeBron James didn’t hunt Ka Leonard in that fourth quarter Clippers switched more than any team put in Daniel Ty on LeBron James in that fourth quarter he hit two transition

Threes they messed up they messed up the first three they messed up the switch on Horn’s chest they up the the switch on horn stress then he hits two transition threes then he hits a three over Daniel Ty now all of a sudden they’re forced to double he was not hunting kawhai Leonard

Shan let me ask you a question if Ka leard is what hold on if kawh leard is what you said why didn’t he fight harder over that pit see that’s what the guy that’s what Kobe did that’s what Jordan did that’s what LeBron did when he was

In his prime he fought over picks so answer that question Mr contextualization Shannon you’re you’re going to have to ask tyou that question because again that is their def ask stry don’t have that has been the strategy for Los Angeles I’m I’m telling you that is the the defensive strategy for the Los

Angeles Clippers he is comfortable switching his bigs onto perimeter players I played against the Clippers in 21 I was injured rather but I was on the Dallas Mavericks for seven games he switched zubats on Del Luca he was comfortable living in those matchups it’s not a it’s not a question for me

It’s not a comparison to Kobe and Jordan like the whole thing with the NBA right now Shannon let me let me explain something to you the whole thing with the NBA right now is exploitation of matchups the smartest coaches look to exploit matchups and that’s all the

Playoffs is that’s what m all it is that’s that’s what Joe Missoula is so great at that’s what the best coaches are so great at they’re looking to create advantageous matchups and then exploit that which team is more likely to make a return to the Conference

Finals the Lakers or the Miami Heat I’m very curious on your answer Stephen a but since it’s International women’s day I know I’m going to go first because I know you like to manifest Miami in the finals so you can hear estan and get to

Go to South Beach when it comes to June but the answer is truly Miami because JJ is absolutely correct it feels like ever since that seven game losing streak they have turned the corner but honestly it’s based off of the Western Conference because if you’re going to stack them up

Against the Lakers path the Lakers have the path of most resistance if the playoffs started SL play started today the Lakers would go up against the Golden State Warriors in the play then they’d have to look up and play either the Dallas Mavericks with Luca Don who

Is leading the league and scoring and also has so many clutch moments in the postseason and the Sacramento Kings just to make the playoffs and by the way the Nuggets they’re only one game back of the Timberwolves we could see a situation where coming in at eight the

Nuggets finish number one and then you’ve got yic then you’ve got that Squad that we just saw dismantle the Celtics down the stretch so yeah as much as the Lakers have been there the the Heat have a better path to make it moving forward go ahead

Wendy yeah this is a good question with an easy answer it’s unquestionably the heat when you look at the heat they’re in tied for six right now with Philadelphia and they have missed the most games due to player injuries of any team in the league they are not a six

Place team they are holding a sixth place record because of injuries they are not a sixth place team they also have the third easiest schedule coming in by opponent winning percentage they are primed to move up and finish in that top six they’ve got two games left against Philadelphia who they’re tied

With where they can do the separation on their own not even needing any help also the teams in the East that they’re going to have to compete with all of them are really banged up and you know I can’t predict injury Futures but Miami is getting healthier all those teams are

Getting more injured and you look at the Lakers I don’t see them getting into the playin or getting out of the play I don’t see them getting into the top six so the path for the heat is going to be easier they’re a better team than their record shows the Lakers are more

Accurate to the record that they’ve had because they’ve generally been healthy with their star players I think it’s a no-brainer that the heat um I think it would be hard they’d have to pull some upsets but I think the Heat have the better shot well for well for a bit for

Me to be the contrarian amongst you both but I’m going to say although I sincerely wish that you are right because you are absolutely telling the truth when every everybody in their mama knows where I want to become June May and June it’s Miami no doubt about it

However I would say to y’all that even though the path is easier it still doesn’t mean that I’m going to say that it’s more likely for the heat to get to the Conference Finals than the Los Angeles Lakers because let’s hyp let’s let’s engage in the hypothetical here

Because we’re allowed to because the S the standings are not finite it’s a situation right now where if you’re the Los Angeles Lakers and you get to avoid playing Denver until the Conference Finals per se who in the west can’t be had who El has stood out when they’ve

Gone against when the Lakers have gone against OKC we’ve seen what they’ve been able to do with them they’ve got the size to some degree to match up with Minnesota and now Carl Anthony towns is Out Sacramento can score in bunches on anybody as they show us time and time

Again but they can’t defend the way that we would like them to all golden state keeps going through one thing after another every time we believe in Dallas something happens even when LCA donic is dropping triple doubles they can still managed to lose to a Philadelphia 76ers

Team without Joel embid on a Sunday afternoon so we got to take those things into consideration as well I would tell you we don’t mention New Orleans enough I will because they’ve got size they’ve got depth they’ve got athleticism and they’ve been playing well they’re coming

I’m not going to ignore them but when I look at the Los Angeles Lakers since February 1st 10 and five offensive rating third best in the NBA behind the Celtics in the thunder field goal percentage 51.4% tie for the best in the NBA three-point shooting 40.1% third best in the NBA assist per

Game fifth best in the NBA and turnovers per game 10.4 second fewest now they can’t stop a cod in terms of their back court defensively with d’angela Russell and Austin Reeves that’s problematic and I get that and Anthony Davis has to step up because LeBron James has been doing

Everything but GI wrapped in him being the damn number one option in the face of the franchise and the best guy on the team and he doesn’t Spee for spe foreign Speech For Foree fore spee Speee fore spee Spee Fore speech Fore Val for so Ch Val for speech speech for and And Loveee fore think your Fore the so Long Speee spee suck Foree Speee for

FIRST TAKE | Lakers are a LEGIT threat in the West! – Stephen A. on LeBron-less, LA win over Bucks