Fansided

NBA Playoffs 2020: 5 reasons the Los Angeles Lakers can win it all

By Rucker Haringey

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 03: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers stands on the court in a game against the Philadelphia 76ers during the first half at Staples Center on March 03, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 03: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers stands on the court in a game against the Philadelphia 76ers during the first half at Staples Center on March 03, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) /
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NBA Playoffs
The Lakers should be well rested entering the Playoffs. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

2. Their veterans got vital rest

The Lakers were going to struggle to rest their veterans and keep hold of the top seed in the Western Conference if the NBA regular season had progressed on schedule. In a strange way, the extended layoff may benefit the Lakers more than many of their younger competitors.

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Obviously LeBron James is going to benefit from the rest. He’s arguably played more high-leverage minutes than any other player in history. The fact that he got multiple weeks to recharge his batteries should terrify the rest of the league.

The rest period might be even more impactful to some of the Lakers’ older role players. Avery Bradley is a guy who needs fresh legs to fulfill his role as the team’s top perimeter defender. He’s lost a step or two due to age-related regression, but getting several weeks of rest should give him a big boost heading into the postseason.

The same can be said for Danny Green. He was shooting slightly under 42 percent from the field during the regular season (though he was still shooting 37.8 percent from 3). The Lakers will hope that the rest period will allow him to get his shooting legs back underneath him. Los Angeles needs him to play at a high level to make a deep postseason run.

Young teams might have hoped to run the Lakers into the ground down the stretch. This long break won’t allow that to happen. It could be just the respite Vogel’s veterans needed to prepare for long playoff battles.

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