NBA Scout Explains Why Lakers Will Upset Nuggets

The Los Angeles Lakers will face off against the Denver Nuggets in the opening round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs.

Last year, Nikola Jokic and Co. swept L.A. in the Western Conference Finals and then went on to win the championship.

Will history repeat itself this year?

At least one prominent NBA scout doesn’t seem to think so.

“I’m picking the Lakers because they’ve got their mojo going,” the scout told Sam Amick of The Athletic.

“They played great at the end of the year. They got their lineup set with Rui Hachimura now. Denver’s just not as good (as it was last year). Yes, they’ll have the home court, which is significant. But they’re just not the same team.

“This has been said all year: Losing Bruce Brown and Jeff Green is going to be important come playoff time. They’re relying on young guys, Peyton Watson and Christian Braun. I think the Lakers are very dangerous. They’re playing at a very high level. They’re playing with confidence.”

LeBron James has made his thoughts on the looming Nuggets matchup clear.

Everyone has picked a side, one way or the other, on who they think will win.

Now it is up to the teams involved to decide what happens from here.

Can D’Angelo Russell and the Lakers shock the world and upset Mike Malone the defending champions in the first round of this year’s playoffs? Time will tell.