Los Angeles Lakers were on a major high last year after ending their decade-long championship drought. The franchise were optimistic about back-to-back titles and were strong contenders prior to the season start. NBA legend Charles Barkley feels that the Lakers don’t have any chance of retaining their title this year.
Things certainly did not go as per plan for the defending champions. While they started their season pretty well, things took a turn for the worse as injuries chimed in.
Ace players LeBron James and Anthony Davis missed 36 and 27 games respectively which started their downfall from a playoff spot to the play-in tournament.
The Lakers had to overcome Golden State Warriors in the play-in tournament to set a date with number 2 seed Phoenix Suns in the firs round of playoffs.
While the series is currently poised at 2-2, injury to Anthony Davis and a half-fir LeBron James casts doubt over Lakers’ chances to make it into the semifinals.
Hard to win a championship with injuries, says Barkley
LeBron James has been tackling a high ankle sprain in the second half of the campaign while Anthony Davis is a major doubt for the crucial Game 5 as a result of a groin injury. All of these factors favour heavily against the Lakers according to Barkley.
AD’s been out for a long time, now you’re trying to play hard basketball. He had a couple good games, but he ain’t had no time to get his rhythm and his conditioning together. Same thing with LeBron. I don’t think LeBron, at his age, can single-handedly whip the Phoenix Suns,” Barkley said
If Lakers clear the Suns hurdle, they will meet the winners of Portland TrailBlazers and Denver Nuggets, a series which is evenly poised at 2-2 as well.
Barkley also added the vital importance of Davis, whose impact has been clearly seen in the series so far. A dismal performance by Davis in Game 1 led to a defeat for the Lakers but the subsequent 34-point effort in Game 2 and 3 steered the side to victory.
If Anthony Davis does not play again, they’re gonna lose to the Phoenix Suns. But, even if they beat the Suns, they got zero chance of winning the championship. These guys are not in good enough shape. They missed too much of the regular season. And like I say, you don’t just pick up a basketball in the middle of the [playoffs] and beat the good teams.” Barkley added
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