The new-look Los Angeles Lakers are still somewhat untested and unproven, and Game 6 of their first-round playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday was a big test for them.
It was seen by many as a virtual must-win game, as a loss would’ve meant returning to Tennessee, where the Grizzlies had the NBA’s best home record in the regular season, for Game 7.
Buy Lakers TicketsBut instead of coming out flat, as they have at times this season in games they should’ve won, the Lakers were on point, and it got them a 125-85 win and a trip to the Western Conference semifinals.
They didn’t just win, or even win convincingly. No, more than anything, they showed the world how good a team they can be moving forward.
Defensively, they continued to show the prowess they’ve been showing ever since the trade deadline. They denied Ja Morant driving angles to the hoop, both in transition and in the halfcourt, while they also stuck to Desmond Bane like glue.
The two Memphis starting guards combined to go 8-of-32 from the field, and this came after they combined for 64 points in Game 5.
The Lakers also looked outstanding on the other end. D’Angelo Russell finally had a red-hot playoff performance with a game-high 31 points on 12-of-17 shooting, and one tactical change helped LeBron James go 9-of-13 from the field and look energetic throughout.
Instead of having James initiate much of the action, L.A. had Russell and Austin Reaves take care of that responsibility, with James playing off the ball more as a striker.
It was also able to get Anthony Davis the ball on the move near the basket, rather than simply throwing him the ball in the post and on the wing while allowing double teams to develop.
When L.A. has won in this series, it has also done so with its transition game. It outscored Memphis on the fast break 24-14 on Friday, and its transition game is one of the most feared aspects of the team.
Unlike last season and early this season, the pieces seem to fit very well, and the team should become even better by simply playing together more and developing a higher level of chemistry and confidence.
If the Lakers are to reach the NBA Finals or even win the world championship this season, the road there will be very difficult, as it should. But if they continue to play as well as they did in Game 6, or, for that matter, Game 1 and Game 3 when they also won by double digits, perhaps a happy ending to this season won’t be too far-fetched.
