Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors has expressed his optimism for the Lebron James-led Los Angeles Lakers’ chances in the first-round playoff matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies.
On his latest podcast episode, Green predicted an upset, saying, “I think the Lakers will take this series.” While acknowledging that it won’t be an easy task for the Lakers, he believes that they have the ability to slow the game down and capitalize on mistakes made by the Grizzlies.
The 33-year-old superstar has been consistently complimentary of LeBron James, a fellow Klutch Sports client, and this could play a role in his predictions. However, he also pointed out basketball reasons for the Lakers’ potential success, citing their impressive form towards the end of the regular season and their ability to navigate the absence of James due to injury.
The US international also mentioned the Grizzlies’ recent on-court and off-court issues, particularly with Dillon Brooks’ sparring and Ja Morant’s suspension.
He stated that it would be interesting to see if the Grizzlies have improved since their mistakes in last year’s playoffs, particularly in their series against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
With the Warriors expected to face the winner of this series in the conference semifinals, Green is keeping a close eye on the outcome. He is upbeat about the Lakers’ prospects against the Grizzlies and looks forward to a potential clash between his team and the Lakers in the next round.
In summary, Draymond Green’s prediction for the Lakers to advance against the Grizzlies may be influenced by his relationship with LeBron James. However, he also believes that the Lakers have basketball reasons to succeed, including their recent form and ability to handle injuries.
Regardless, Green is looking forward to a potential matchup between the Warriors and Lakers in the conference semifinals.
"It will NOT be easy… but I think the Lakers may take this series"
—@Money23Green previews Lakers-Grizzlies pic.twitter.com/APmxW1b7RF
— The Volume (@TheVolumeSports) April 12, 2023
Draymond Green Expresses Surprise at LeBron James’ Performance in Lakers’ Play-In Win
The world of sports is full of surprises, and one of the latest ones came from Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green. During the Draymond Green Show on The Volume, expressed his surprise at LeBron James’ performance during the Lakers’ play-in tournament win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Green stated that he was shocked by James’ performance, saying that he looked “gassed” and made some “uncharacteristic passes” during the game. Despite this, James led all players with 30 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists.
LeBron James has been an essential part of the Los Angeles Lakers since he joined the team in 2018. However, he missed one month of action this season with a foot injury. The Lakers attempted to manage his minutes after his return, having him play 33 or fewer minutes in six of the eight regular-season games.
The strategy worked, as the Lakers went 6-2 and clinched a spot in the play-in tournament. With the win over the Timberwolves, they secured the No. 7 seed and will face the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the playoffs.
Despite the Lakers’ low seeding, Green predicted that they would upset the second-seeded Grizzlies in the playoffs. The Lakers have been a different and far better team since acquiring D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Rui Hachimura at the trade deadline.
Furthermore, the Lakers have only continued to improve as James and Anthony Davis have gotten healthier. If LeBron James is at his best, the Lakers are a legitimate threat to go the distance in the Western Conference.
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