The NBA's Western Conference is a much tougher road to the NBA Finals than what the Cavaliers and Celtics have to take in the East. Despite that tough road, the Lakers and Nuggets have handled their business thus far and look good doing it. However, most will say that the Nuggets have been more impressive than the top seed Lakers, especially evident by a 58 point trouncing of the Chris Paul led Hornets.
58 is all well and good, but being able to cruise in the early rounds doesn't automatically lead to a championship. The Lakers last year steam rolled through the Western Conference playoffs while the Eastern Conference Celtics battled en route to the finals. When the two met, the battle tested Celtics prevailed. Two years ago saw the New England Patriots complete the first ever 16-0 season in the NFL, but saw them fall short in the Super Bowl when they couldn't come through in the clutch.
The Lakers were up by 20 in three games in their first series and saw all of those leads reduced to single digits. They are starting to develop the mental fortitude they didn't have last season. All signs lead to a Lakers/Nuggets clash in the Western Conference finals, but will see that the battle tested Lakers, who have had a target on their back all season, will come out on top. Until next time...
Branden E. Jones
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment