The Los Angeles Lakers are the darlings of the NBA after the trade deadline. While the Cleveland Cavaliers own the Association’s longest winning street at 11 games, the Lakers have the second-longest winning streak, and appear to have found their groove after receiving Luka Doncic.
ESPN‘s Stephen A. Smith believes Lakers coach JJ Redick deserves a nomination for coach of the year because of the way the team fixed their defense. Los Angeles looks like the only legitimate threat the Oklahoma City Thunder have in the Western Conference come the playoffs.
Former Boston Celtics center Kendrick Perkins is crediting the Lakers for “saving the NBA” this season because of the intrigue they brought back to the sport after trading for Doncic.
Are the Los Angeles Lakers “saving” the NBA?
“Guess what? I take it a step further. Right now, the Los Angeles Lakers are saving the NBA,” Perkins said on ESPN’s NBA Today. “A month ago. Let me ask you a question. How excited were y’all a month ago, before the Luka trade about the NBA?
“I mean…I saw headlines that said the NBA stole the Super Bowl. Okay, that was the headline that week. So, now y’all can honestly say that y’all more excited? Why? Because we could possibly get Boston versus Lakers with the superstar power…
“All the fans around the world who probably was like, in and out when it came down to what’s going to happen in June, they’re committed, they’re all in, and when you have showtime back in LA. Now all of a sudden excitement, the energy, and everything else is back towards the NBA.”
"Right now, the Los Angeles Lakers are saving the NBA." 😯 @KendrickPerkins is excited about the potential matchups in the NBA playoffs this season 👀 pic.twitter.com/SuUOvPXXdP
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) March 5, 2025
A Boston Celtics-Lakers rematch in the making?
The Lakers and Celtics would have to engineer (at least minor) upsets in the playoffs to reach the NBA Finals. The Cavs have the NBA’s best record (51-10) and an eight-game lead on Boston for the No. 1 spot in the East. The Oklahoma City Thunder has the NBA’s second-best record (50-11) and a 10.5-game lead on the Lakers.
The Thunder and Cavs might be the best two teams for the NBA Finals, but fans around the world would love to see another edition of the Lakers-Celtics rivalry in June.
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