Getty
Charles Barkley looks on prior to game three of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Celtics and Heat on May 21, 2023.
A tough game is in store for the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night.
In LA, the Lakers are welcoming the multi-time MVP-winning center Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets. The game will serve as a strong barometer matchup for both teams, as they are in the Western Conference playoff picture one month out from the postseason.
Heading into the game, the Lakers are out in front of Denver. The Lakers are the West’s fourth seed with a 41-25 record. They have a 0.5-game lead over the Nuggets, who are 41-26 on the year.
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With the Lakers holding the higher seed, they could be viewed as the favorites going into the matchup, but the NBA legend Charles Barkley feels it would be a personal nightmare scenario if the Lakers pull through and defeat the Nuggets.
Charles Barkley Sends Shots At Lakers’ NBA Contender Status
GettyLos Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James drives the ball. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Before the game tipped off on Saturday, March 14, Barkley made his feelings on the Lakers and anybody calling them contenders crystal clear.
“My Worst nightmare is the Lakers winning tonight, and I have to listen to all the crap on Monday on the talk shows that the Lakers are contenders,” Barkley said on ESPN.
“My Worst nightmare is the Lakers winning tonight and I have to listen to all the crap on Monday on the talk shows that the Lakers are contenders”
– Charles Barkley
That’s not the first time Barkley was critical of the LA Lakers this season.
The record says the Lakers are among the top teams in the league. When it comes to the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs have been the clear-cut top dogs throughout the year. The Spurs are trailing OKC by 3.0 games. The drop-off from San Antonio to the third-seeded Houston Rockets is a steep 7.5 games.
Meanwhile, the Lakers could grab the third seed before the start of the new week. When Barkley was questioned by his co-hosts about changing his stance if the Lakers had the favorable third seed, the NBA legend stood firm on his belief that the Lakers are not championship material this year.
Two Sides To The Purple And Gold
GettyLuka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Offensively, the Lakers have been as good as advertised. Luka Doncic has been by far one of the top scorers in the NBA. Going through his first full season with the Lakers, Doncic is on pace to be the NBA’s scoring champion for the second time in his career. He is shooting at a 47% clip from the field, averaging 32.9 points per game.
The veteran sharpshooter Austin Reaves has been having a strong run, averaging 23.9 points per game, while hitting on 50% of his shots. Then, there’s the 41-year-old LeBron James, who can turn the clock back when healthy. James is producing 21.4 points per game, making 50% of his shots from the field.
The Lakers are dangerous on that side, but their defense is a different story. The head coach, JJ Redick, has called out his team’s struggles on defense on many occasions throughout the year.
Heading into the Denver matchup, the Lakers ranked 20th in defensive rating. When considering the top two teams in each conference (Thunder, Spurs, Pistons, Celtics), they are all in the top five in that category. It’s clear the Lakers are in a tough spot when it comes to two-way basketball.
Therefore, Barkley remains skeptical of their chances of making a deep run this season.
Justin Grasso Justin Grasso is an NBA reporter, covering trending league news, transactions, injuries, and player developments. He is a credentialed journalist with nearly a decade of insider access. More about Justin Grasso
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