People say the Lakers had an easy run to the finals in 2020 yet they faced the top teams and stomped them convincingly while the Nuggets get a lot of praise as one of the GOAT teams and playoff runs of all time even though they faced 3 teams that were seeded 7 or below with the only team above that being a measly 4th seed. Does this have to do with Jokic being more likeable and relatable than LeBron or something?
The Lakers may have played higher seeded teams but their opponents I think were way worse than the ones the Nuggets faced.
Round one they faced a below .500 blazers team. Which was starting a 35 year old Melo. I would say last years Wolves team was much better than that Blazers team from 2020.
Round two the faced the super small ball Rockets that were starting PJ Tucker at the 5. That was the easiest match up possible for that Lakers team that had 3 7 footers in AD,McGee,Howard and had a ton of size on that team beside those 3. The Rockets got out rebounded by 64 for the series or 13 rebounds per game. That Lakers team was built to crush small team and the Rockets were playing micro ball. I don’t think anyone thought those Rockets were a good team. I think the KD,Booker Suns were better than that years Rockets. Not only did Booker score 40 points on 80% shooting over games 3&4 but they were just a better team overall. Everyone was saying the Suns were going win that series and as soon as the traded for KD they were the favourites out West.
Round 3 the faced a really good Nuggets team that matched up pretty well against them and it was a close series. Were the Nuggets amazing? I don’t think so Jokic was only 24 years old hadn’t one an MVP and Murray was just 22. It was a young Nuggets team that had just comeback from two different 3-1 holes and was gassed. I think this was the only team they faced in the west that not only matched up good against them but also was an actual good team. It’s up to you if you think last years Lakers team was better than this Nuggets team. I think they were probably equal but that’s up to you.
In the Finals they played a Heat team that was missing their leading scorer in Dragic who only played 34 minutes the whole finals and was washed after this year. They were also missing Bam for two games and he was limited when he did come back. The Heats second best player that series was a rookie Tyler Herro. Do I think last years Heat team was better than their 2020 team I do. Not only was Bam fully healthy he was also better that he was in 2020. The Heat’s role players were playing out of their minds up until the finals when the Nuggets did a great job of locking them down.
I think without actually looking at the teams each faced you can say the Lakers played better opponents but when you actually look at the teams each faced I don’t know how you can say that.