The defending champion will not keep his crown. The Warriors took a slap in Game 6 against the Lakers (122-101) and let the Los Angeles franchise slip away in the conference final. Lebron James’ teammates will challenge the Nuggets there. In the East, Miami also avoided a Game 7 by finishing the job against the Knicks (96-92). The Heat will face either the Sixers or the Celtics in the Conference Finals.
While waiting for game 7 in the East, the sensation of the evening and even of these play-offs, with the surprise elimination, in the first round, of the Milwaukee Bucks of Giannis Antetokounmpo, it is the setback suffered by the Warriors.
LeBron James doesn’t have much of the triple-double
Firstly, because it is historical – under the Steve Kerr era which started in 2014/2015, it was the first time that they were eliminated by a team from the West, that is to say before the grand finale – then because few would have imagined a month ago to see the Lakers, then tottering and forced to go through the play-offs, achieve this performance.
But LA no longer has the same face. Behind the stainless LeBron James, still giant and omnipresent (30 pts at 10/14, 9 assists, 9 rebounds), and the essential Anthony Davis (17 pts, 20 rebounds) recovered from the blow received at a temple 48 hours earlier , the purples and golds have become a formidable team in just a few weeks. The winter transfer window was successful, like D’Angelo Russell (19 pts) still precious.
Crisis in Golden State, the Lakers dream of the 18th title
Golden State, which aspired to continue its dynasty revived last year, is now going through a questioning, even if its elimination is not unworthy. Because these Lakers, resilient and inflated with confidence, have arguments to dream of a possible 18th record title.
The last dates back to 2020, in Orlando’s anti-Covid bubble. And had been obtained against Miami, which would see itself taking revenge. In the meantime, consistency prevails: this is the third time in four years that the Heat have reached the final in the East.