The Bad Guys vs The Old Guys
“Who will win the NBA Championship?”
Los Angeles Lakers & Brooklyn Nets are some of the finest teams in the NBA, both coming off a disappointing season. Starting the 2020-2021 NBA season as favorites both teams battled with injuries throughout the season and the story was no different during the playoffs.
Both Lakers star players LeBron James & Anthony Davis had just recovered from their respective injuries during the regular season and made a comeback to the playoffs but were yet to attain 100% fitness.
In the first round of the playoffs, the Lakers were facing the second seed Phoenix Suns led by Chris Paul & Devin Booker.
The Suns were too good for an injury-hit Lakers team missing their star player Anthony Davis eventually leading to their exit in the first round as the Lakers lost the series by 4-2.
The story was no different from the other all-star team Brooklyn Nets as their two-star players in Kyrie Irving and James Harden were struggling with fitness which led to a loss from the Milwaukee Bucks.
It was a thriller contest between Kevin Durant (Nets) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks) as they went toe to toe but the Bucks eventually got the better of the Nets 4-3.
The Off-season
Both Lakers & Nets were coming off a disappointing season and looking to come back strong. The Brooklyn Nets last season pulled off one of the biggest trades in NBA history when they acquired James Harden from the Houston Rockets and formed their big three along with Kevin Durant & Kyrie Irving in the 2021-2022 season. Thus, the narrative began of them being the “Bad guys”.
The Lakers were all prepared in the off season as this summer according to speculations they had eyes on landing Chris Paul/ Buddy Hield/ Kyle Lowry in free agency.
The Lakers were ready to trade players and land a player who could add more value to the team. So who became the new Laker?
Russell Westbrook
Yes, to everyone’s surprise, the Laker's new signing was Mr. triple-double himself, Russell Westbrook.
Lakers traded Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Montrezl Harrell, Kyle Kuzma, and the draft rights to Isaiah Jackson and acquired Russell Westbrook and three future draft picks from the Washington Wizards in the trade.
With only five players with a guaranteed contract LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook, Marc Gasol, and Alphonso Mckenzie the Lakers had a mammoth task ahead of them to fill out the remaining roster spots in the limited cap space.
The priority after the signing of Russell Westbrook for the Lakers was to re-sign fan favorite and their elite defender Alex Caruso and the talented youngster Talen Horton Tucker.
But to everyone’s surprise, the Lakers and Alex Caruso part ways and he ended up signing a new deal of 37 million dollars with the Chicago Bulls.
But the Lakers managed to retain their talented rookie Talen Horton Tucker as he signed a new three-year 32 million deal with the Lakers.
After parting ways with Alex Caruso the Lakers added a valuable point guard to their roster as they signed with former Miami Heat guard Kendrick Nunn & Charlotte Hornets Shooting Guard Malik Monk.
The Veterans
As the majority of the cap space was consumed and yet the roster spots were to be filled, the lakers were looking for players to sign veteran minimum contracts to acquire the best deals.
Thus began, the signings of the veterans. The Lakers added veteran shooter Wayne Ellington, Kent Bazemore and 3D Player Trevor Ariza.
The Lakers also managed to sign back Dwight Howard for his third stint with the Lakers and Rajon Rondo for his second. Both the players played a crucial part in winning the championship for the Lakers in the bubble in Orlando.
Another valuable addition the lakers made to the squad was a prolific experienced scorer in Carmelo Anthony.
Anthony might not be the same player he once was but according to statistics, his 3 point shooting improved drastically from the last two seasons in Portland. He can still give you a 20 point game any given night against any team.
The LA Lakers & Marc Gasol mutually decided to part ways as he traded to Memphis Grizzlies. The Lakers along with Dwight Howard added another rim protector in the name of Deandre Jordan to their squad.
So when did the Lakers become the Old guys ?!
LeBron James (36 yrs)
Anthony Davis (28 yrs)
Russell Westbrook (32 yrs)
Carmelo Anthony (37 yrs)
Dwight Howard (35 yrs)
Rajon Rondo (35 yrs)
Malik Monk (23 yrs)
Wayne Ellington(33 yrs)
Kendrick Nunn (26 yrs)
Talen Horton Tucker (20 yrs)
Trevor Ariza (36 yrs)
Kent Bazemore (32 yrs)
DeAndre Jordan (33 yrs)
With nine players over the age of 30 in the Lakers roster, the narrative became the Lakers are a team of veterans thus they are the “Old Guys”.
Some experts and pundits saw the lakers as a team of old players, others saw them as one of the favorites to win the title, and a team of experienced veterans.
Most of the players in the team may be old but are coming off a productive season with their respective teams and can be great role players to the big three of James, Davis, Westbrook and add great value to the team.
The Brooklyn Nets also acquired guard Cam Thomas, Jevon Carter, Forward James Johnson & Kessler Edwards.
The Nets also acquired forward Sekou Doumbouya & Center Jahill Okafor from Detroit in exchange for Centre DeAndre Jordan.
The Ultimate Final’s matchup
LA Lakers vs. Brooklyn Nets NBA final is highly speculated and will be a treat to watch for every NBA fan, if the two teams can reach the finals from their respective conferences.
It could be an epic battle between the two teams and the big three of both the teams James Harden, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving (Nets) vs. LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook (Lakers).
Both the teams will look to make a statement by winning the 2021-2021 NBA championship.
The X Factor
Lakers
Both team's rosters have multiple All-stars & MVP players in their roster. With such high caliber and high IQ in both teams, what is the x-factor in both teams?
Lakers will be looking to turn things around this season and for that their Big Man Anthony Davis needs to have an MVP level season on both defensive and offensive ends.
The Last time the Lakers won the championship Anthony Davis played a big role especially on the defensive end and was also voted second for the defensive player of the year award.
Brooklyn Nets
A team that probably has the best offensive player in NBA, Kevin Durant. For a player with the best ball handling in Kyrie Irving, it is tough to decide who gives the team the edge in the important games.
The answer is James Harden former MVP and a three time scoring champion. A player who is as good as Kevin Durant on the offensive end and when it comes to ball handling and playmaking he is no less than Kyrie Irving.
James harden can rip any team's defense apart single-handedly and feed his teammates.
Harden adds great value to the team and can be lethal during the clutch minutes when fully healthy. Harden will be looking to win his first ring with the Nets this season.
