Thunder painfully crushed Lakers‘ championship dreams in two heartbreaking ways

It has been a tough week for the Los Angeles Lakers. They bought stomped out by the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, with each Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves being injured in the identical recreation. OKC principally ended the Lakers‘ postseason earlier than it even started with a single brutal shot.

Since late February, the Lakers have been probably the most dominant groups within the league. Beginning with a victory on February twenty eighth over the Warriors, Los Angeles has gained 16 out of 19 video games. That features a formidable nine-game successful streak that modified the dialog round them.

This huge turnaround within the Lakers‘ season was pushed by two issues. Initially, Doncic began taking part in constant, MVP-worthy basketball. Second, Doncic, Reaves, and LeBron James have all managed to be wholesome on the identical time. It is an excellent trio to guide a group.

Then, the Lakers confronted off towards OKC on April 2nd. Not solely did the Thunder totally destroy Los Angeles by a rating of 139 to 96, however each Doncic and Reaves additionally sustained accidents that may maintain them out for at the very least the primary spherical of the playoffs. It was a loss that modified the season.

The Lakers‘ postseason outlook has hit the rocks

Shedding Doncic and Reaves signifies that James now has to guide the Lakers via the primary spherical with out them. Los Angeles simply doesn’t have the depth to make up for lacking two of their three greatest gamers. And James is not the man to pull a group via the playoffs on his personal anymore.

On prime of that, shedding to OKC had one other affect on the Lakers. Being overwhelmed by 43 factors proper earlier than the playoffs, Los Angeles‘ largest lack of the season, is extremely demoralizing. It has probably been an enormous hit to their confidence, notably since they must tackle OKC sooner or later.

Based mostly on the present standings, the Lakers would face a full-strength Timberwolves within the first spherical with out Doncic and Reaves. If Los Angeles survives that, they’re hoping to have the boys again for the second spherical. That will be simply in time to in all probability tackle the Spurs, a tricky struggle to make certain.

Look, something can occur within the NBA Playoffs, particularly relating to the Lakers. Nonetheless, the percentages should not of their favor, and it is all due to one recreation towards OKC. That loss was so full that it principally took Los Angeles‘ complete season and flushed it down the bathroom.