After being ousted by the Denver Nuggets in a clean sweep during the 2023 Western Conference Finals, the Los Angeles Lakers face an early rematch in this year’s NBA Playoffs, meeting the Nuggets again in the first round.
The Lakers secured the seventh seed and their playoff position by defeating the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night. There had been speculation that the Lakers might prefer to lose their initial play-in game to secure the eighth seed for an easier playoff route, but clearly, the team did not entertain this strategy.
The Nuggets were arguably the least desired first-round opponent for Lakers fans, yet there is no alternative route to the NBA Finals but through Denver. This time around, the Lakers enter the series as underdogs, but they have a new advantage they lacked last year: Gabe Vincent.
Gabe Vincent is the Lakers’ secret weapon for unseating the Nuggets.
Gabe Vincent’s debut season with the Los Angeles Lakers has been disappointing. He spent much of the regular season sidelined by injuries, and his performance upon returning hasn’t met fans’ expectations. At Lake Show Life, we’ve been quite vocal in our analysis of his signing, but we’re prepared to admit we were wrong if (or when) he manages to turn things around.
It seems that Vincent began his turnaround in the game against the Pelicans on Tuesday. It was arguably his best performance since joining the Lakers, making a significant impact on both ends of the court. This is precisely what the Lakers need to shift the dynamics of their series against the Nuggets.
Last season, the Lakers lacked a defensive guard capable of handling Jamal Murray, who dominated them in the Western Conference Finals. This year, the situation is different with Vincent on the roster. Although Murray had a strong showing in the NBA Finals against the Miami Heat last year, Vincent managed to contain him more effectively than any Laker had previously. With Anthony Davis supporting him in LA, Vincent has the potential to be the critical Murray-stopper the Lakers need.
There’s also the possibility of a “playoff Vincent” emergence. Some players have a knack for stepping up their game in the postseason, which can be the difference between an early exit and clinching an NBA Championship.
Take, for example, the impact of “playoff Rondo” during the 2020 NBA Playoffs. His exceptional performance was a crucial reason the Lakers captured the title that year. Rondo was arguably the third-best player on the team during that run, and without his contributions, the championship might have been out of reach.
If Vincent can elevate his game in a similar manner (as he indeed did last year with the Heat), then the Lakers become a significantly more formidable opponent than the team that was swept in last year’s Western Conference Finals.
