Will the Lakers vs Suns series be the most lopsided 2 v 7 seed in history or what?...
I cant even recall a defending champion enter the playoffs as a 7th seed and be the overwhelming favorites to win...its crazy...and the linger these playoffs go for them..it seems the better they will become...aaarggh i hate that they virtually can stomp through to the Finals honestly.
The Lakers roster isn’t as good as it was last year. Plus, Lebron is still banged up. I expect them to win the series vs the Suns in 6 or 7, but not come out of the West. They barely won the play in game against GS to get into the playoffs.
If they are healthy, the Lakers are every bit as good this year as last and a large reason for that is Schroder is significantly better than anyone they had last year. That moves guys like Kuzma down a rung on the pecking order which helps a lot.
They also have largely the same players Lebron, AD, Kuzma, Morris, KCP, Caruso, Horton-Tucker (obviously he has improved)
So the guys they lost: Rondo, Green, Howard, McGee, Smith
vs. guys they've gained: Schroder, Drummond, Gasol, Harrell, Matthews
I'd take this years roster given I think those 4 are better than what they lost and Horton-Tucker and to a lesser extent Caruso and Kuzma are better.
Of course, they haven't been healthy at the top and may not be, which of course would change the equation a great deal. I also think the Clippers are a better more cohesive team this year, so it wouldn't be surprising at all to see the Clippers beat the Lakers and the East champ is almost certainly going to be better than Miami was last year, so it won't be as easy for the Lakers to win the title.
