2 ways the Lakers can crush the Warriors and 1 thing to avoid

The Los Angeles Lakers want to make a statement about their playoff expectations by crushing the Golden State Warriors in Wednesday’s play-in game. There are two key factors to getting the job done and one thing that must be avoided.

What will it take for the Los Angeles Lakers to thwart Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors?

The defending NBA champions had repeat aspirations heading into this season and remain the favorites in Wednesday night’s matchup despite struggling with injuries for most of the season. With that being said, Curry has been on another level lately, and the Warriors have proven they can hang with anybody.

When the NBA created the play-in tournament, they probably didn’t imagine we’d all be in for a Lakers-Warriors matchup this early in the playoffs. Get your snacks ready, because Steph Curry vs. LeBron James in a one-off postseason game is bound to be one of the most entertaining games of the year, even if the King has only played four games in the past two months.

For the Lakers, a victory comes down to two key factors, plus one thing they must avoid at all costs.

Lakers need to dominate inside

The Lakers have a huge size advantage against the small-ball Warriors, and they must use it to their advantage. James, Anthony Davis, Andre Drummond, Montrezl Harrell, Marc Gasol, Kyle Kuzma and company have the ability to punish the Warriors in the paint.

LA needs to exploit Golden State’s vulnerability on the glass and get plenty of second-chance opportunities. Expect Davis and Drummond, in particular, to be menacing on the offensive boards and protect the rim on defense.

Return of the King

LeBron may have given Curry his MVP vote this season, but the Lakers need their star to play like what many argue he still is: the best basketball player on the planet.

The Lakers have battled through numerous injuries this year and haven’t looked as threatening with LeBron on the sidelines. Fortunately, he was in the thick of the MVP race himself until sustaining an ankle injury that kept him out for much of the past two months.

If LeBron can perform like the best basketball player in the world, the Lakers will win.

Avoid letting Curry be the best player in the game

Look, Steph gonna Steph. This is one of the league’s most high-profile matchups, and it’s high stakes. Curry is going to get his. What the Lakers must avoid is letting the two-time MVP and current scoring champion be the best player in the game. Easier said than done, but Los Angeles has a four-time MVP on their side and arguably one of the best supporting casts in the league.

No one expects the Lakers to turn Curry into a non-factor. But by hell or high water, they must find a way to stop Curry from going supernova in Wednesday’s game. That means slowing down the pace, throwing good defenders at him in one-on-one scenarios and being solid with their pick-and-roll defense.

Curry is averaging over 25 shots per game over his last nine contests and hitting them at an absurd rate. When he’s lights out, everything clicks for the Warriors and they’re awfully tough to beat. The Lakers cannot let that happen.