In a recent episode of ESPN’s First Take, Kendrick Perkins, former NBA player turned sports analyst, shared his thoughts on a potential showdown between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors in the 2023-24 NBA season’s play-in tournament.
Perkins expressed his confidence in the Lakers over the Warriors in the Western Conference. He believes that if the two teams were to meet in the play-in, the Lakers would come out on top.
“I’m going with the Lakers; I’m going with LeBron James; I trust LeBron James more than I trust Steph Curry; more than I trust Klay Thompson; more than I trust Andrew Wiggins; hell, more do I trust his own teammates than Anthony Davis, and that’s saying a lot.
Los Angeles Lakers have two more games left to play
LeBron James, when it comes down to having that IQ to understand the moment, he’s going to take you to the finish line,” Perkins stated during the interview.
With their last two games at home, both Sacramento and Golden State hold an advantage. Meanwhile, the Lakers find themselves at a disadvantage as they have no tiebreakers against either team. This means they must defeat both opponents to secure the eighth spot.
While it is a possibility, the task ahead for the Lakers is challenging. The Sacramento Kings face Portland at home in their final game, while the Warriors finish their season with a home game against the Utah Jazz.
Sitting tied with the Golden State Warriors at 45-35, the Lakers currently occupy the tenth seed in the Western Conference standings.
Despite losing their last two games, the Lakers cling to the final play-in position. Winning their remaining two games could potentially propel them to the seventh seed. However, any slip-ups could see them missing out on the postseason journey altogether. Finishing in ninth or tenth place would only afford them one opportunity to advance.
