2023 Western Conference Semifinal Preview: Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Lakers

2023 Western Conference Semifinal Preview: Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Lakers

The No. 6-seeded Golden State Warriors will host the No. 7-seeded Los Angeles Lakers in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals Tuesday night at 10 p.m. ET. Both the Lakers and Warriors won their first round playoff series as the lower seeded team. The Lakers finished off the No. 2-seeded Memphis Grizzlies in six games. On Sunday, Stephen Curry and the Warriors unplugged the beam on the No. 3-seeded Sacramento Kings.

Flashbacks are already setting in from four consecutive LeBron-Curry NBA Finals matchups. This Western Conference Semifinals series is the first time the two have matched up in the same conference in the playoffs. Not long ago, NBA fans wanted any other matchup besides LeBron vs. Curry. Both legends meeting in the playoffs at least one more time seems strangely fitting now.

The Lakers won three out of four of their regular season matchups against the Warriors this season. Golden State won the first game back in October, but then proceeded to drop the next three, including the most recent meeting in early March when Anthony Davis poured in 39 points. The winner of this Western Conference Semifinals series will face the winner of Denver vs. Phoenix.

In a matchup of the Bay vs. LA, fireworks are to be expected.

Golden State Warriors

Notable Starters:

• G Stephen Curry
• G Klay Thompson
• F Andrew Wiggins
• F Draymond Green
• C Kevon Looney

Important Role Players:

• G Jordan Poole
• G Gary Payton II
• G Donte DiVincenzo

Golden State emerged victorious in what was easily the most entertaining first round series, defeating the Sacramento Kings 120-100 in Game 7 at the Golden 1 Center.

The defending champions enter the Western Conference Semifinals one step closer to repeating and winning the franchise’s fifth Larry O’Brien trophy in nine seasons. Curry averaged 33.7 points, 4.8 assists and 4.8 rebounds across a very consistent seven-game performance against the Kings.

Different teammates seemed to play the supporting role throughout a series in which Curry was unsurprisingly in the driver’s seat. Kevon Looney played a significant role eclipsing 20 rebounds in Games 3, 5 and 7. All three games the Warriors won.

Golden State did not receive much help from their bench during their first round series. Something that will have to change as they prepare to face the Lakers.

Los Angeles Lakers

Notable Starters:

• G D’Angelo Russell
• G Austin Reaves
• F Jarred Vanderbilt
• F LeBron James
• C Anthony Davis

Important Role Players

• G Dennis Schröder
• F Rui Hachimura

King James and the Lakers have ridden their trade deadline momentum all the way into the Western Conference Semifinals. Against the Memphis Grizzlies, LeBron averaged 22.8 points, 11.1 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game in the team’s first-round series win.

The difference between the Lakers’ first half of the season and now can be described in one word: chemistry. Along with a healthy and dominant Davis, James does not have to carry the team on a nightly basis. The Lakers have seen the emergence of players like Reaves step into a major role, who put up 16.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game against the Grizzlies. While his defense still needs work, Reaves has become a clutch and important shooter on this Lakers team.

LeBron, AD and Reaves will look to carry their impressive play into their Western Conference Semifinals matchup with the Warriors.

Biggest Questions Heading into the Series

1.) How does the winner of this series affect LeBron and Steph’s legacy?

LeBron James and Stephen Curry have been the two most impactful players in the NBA for a decade now. Both players find new ways to astonish fans every year with their abilities. Their achievements are undeniable, and both are significant parts of basketball history.

However, the competitor in both LeBron and Curry know what is potentially at stake for the winner of this series. The pair each have won four NBA championships. The winner of this year’s Western Conference Semifinals matchup may directly determine who retires with more rings between the two.

The winner of the series would still need to complete the championship run, but it is something to think about given the fact that it may be the last playoff meeting between two titans of the game.

2.) Is this potentially the Warriors “Last Dance”?

The trio of Curry, Thompson and Green are an extremely rare occurrence in NBA history. All three players were originally drafted by the Warriors. Together, they have made six NBA Finals appearances and won four. Playing together for over a decade with consistent success is an amazing accomplishment.

The loudest of the group, Green, is set to become a free agent at the end of this season. Every elimination game from here on out is potentially the last game to feature the Warriors’ dynamic trio, in turn making this Western Conference Semifinals series against the Lakers all the more important.

Prediction

The winner of this Western Conference Semifinals matchup will not have home court advantage against the winner of the Nuggets and Suns clash. Both the Lakers and Warriors, however, have proven their ability to win in the playoffs as the lower-seeded team.

Golden State holds the experience edge as defending champions, yet LeBron James is undoubtedly the most experienced player in the entire NBA.

The Lakers will likely try to maximize their size advantage against a much smaller Warriors roster — a strategy the Warriors should be well used to by now. While the Lakers definitely have a chance in this series, young players in key roles against a battle tested Warriors squad will be to much to handle, in my opinion.

Warriors in 6

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