Earvin “Magic” Johnson clearly picked a side, expressing his support for the Los Angeles Lakers as the top contenders in the Western Conference. Johnson played for the Lakers his entire career and gained recognition as one of the best point guards of all time.
Magic Johnson High on Los Angeles Lakers as Western Conference Contenders
The Lakers entered their recent game against the Houston Rockets with an 43-25 record and put leading scorer Luka Dončić in a pivotal position. The Slovenian delivered 40 points, nine rebounds, and 10 assists and nailed seven 3-pointers, despite being slightly subpar in the initial three quarters.
LeBron James scored 30 points in his third game back from an injury layoff and performed well, working with teammates to contain Kevin Durant for the second time in a row. The Rockets’ playoff chances are now in jeopardy following the 124-116 loss.
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The Lakers, who shot 46.9% from 3-point range and 60.5% from the field in the win, can give any team a run for their money in the tournament. According to Johnson, the Lakers’ defense has improved significantly. He also gave props to head coach JJ Redick, saying:
“The Lakers are contenders in the West because of their outstanding improvement on defense. It’s been a total team effort, starting with man-to-man defense, and their rotations and communication have been excellent. It says a lot about the great job JJ Redick is doing! The Lakers are the most exciting team to watch in the NBA!”
In another post, the player-turned-businessman also noted that the Lakers squad proved its worth by beating three playoff teams in the past week. “In the last week, the Lakers have beaten three Playoff teams – Denver, Minnesota, and Houston twice!”
James, who is playing his 23rd season in the NBA, has already set the record for the most seasons played in league history. His three dunks in the first half of the recent Houston-Los Angeles game pushed his total to 33 dunks in just 48 games, trailing last season’s mark of 71 dunks in 82 games.
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Fans rallied for the legendary leader and all-time scoring king to participate in the Slam Dunk Contest, but he chose instead to focus on the regular-season games on the path to a probable playoff run.
On the other hand, Dončić has been playing at MVP-caliber levels, and his addition to the team this season has been one of the most crucial. While he takes care of the offense, Marcus Smart has been dominating defensively. Austin Reaves also emerged as a secondary scorer and playmaker.
