Mike Greenberg The Lakers have the second-best chance according to our analytics to make it to the NBA Finals from the West behind only Oklahoma City Brian Windhorst The computer doesn't have to defend Nikola Jokic

Nick Wright This version of Luka means no one wants to play him He and his team are clutch and connected I'm not picking the Lakers to win the title but they are real contenders

Jason Timpf on the Colin Cowherd Podcast Against the Top 10 teams in point differential in the NBA the Lakers are getting outscored by 13 points per game which is good for 28th in the league behind only the Wizards and the Nets

Brian Windhorst When LeBron doesnt play and Austin Reaves and Luka do the Lakers are a better team

LeBron James on who he thinks is going to win the NBA Finals this year Well obviously Im going to say my team the Lakers but if you wanted me to pick one other team I would say the Cavs They for sure got some new great additions

Nikola Joki gets animated while addressing his teammates at halftimesince that moment the Nuggets have outscored the Lakers

Nikola Jokic makes the tough bucket over Brook Lopez to cut the Clippers lead to 2