SUMMARY
- Magic Johnson believes that the Nuggets won against the Lakers last year due to their guards.
- Magic opines that the Lakers can win only if D'Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves and the other Lakers' guards step up their play.
Magic Johnson recently weighed in on the upcoming series between the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets. To the fans who might not be aware, Magic is a former NBA star and is considered by many as one of the greatest franchise players in Lakers history. He won 5 NBA championships in the 1980s and remained associated with the Lakers organization for several years following his retirement.
Although Magic currently occupies no official spot in the Lakers’ organization, he still discusses issues related to the team and the league. Since the Lakers are about to start a 7 game first-round series against the Denver Nuggets, Johnson voiced his thoughts on this upcoming matchup.
Magic Johnson opines that the Nuggets’ success over the Lakers was due to their perimeter guards
Both the media and fans show a tendency to assign blame over credit. The reasons why a team lost are always highlighted more when compared to why their opponents won. Since the Los Angeles Lakers are considered a basketball dynasty, the focus has been more on their flaws as opposed to the Nuggets’ strengths.
Magic Johnson has likely observed this phenomenon. He sent out a tweet focusing on how the Nuggets managed to sweep the Lakers last year and what Los Angeles should do in order to prevent the same from occurring once again.
For the Lakers to have any chance to beat the Nuggets this time around, the guards have to bring their A-game. Last year, the Nuggets’ guard trio of Bruce Brown, KCP, and Jamal Murray were dominant! The Lakers’ key to win will be DLO, Reaves, Vincent, and Dinwiddie outperforming…
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) April 19, 2024
“For the Lakers to have any chance to beat the Nuggets this time around, the guards have to bring their A-game. Last year, the Nuggets’ guard trio of Bruce Brown, KCP, and Jamal Murray were dominant! The Lakers’ key to win will be DLO, Reaves, Vincent, and Dinwiddie outperforming Murray, KCP, and Braun.”
Johnson certainly makes a good point. LeBron and Jokic may be the faces and leaders of their team. But the success of their respective guards will undoubtedly play a huge role in deciding the winner of this series.
Is Jamal Murray the best guard in this series?
Magic credited Murray, KCP, and Brown for the success that the Nuggets had last season in their championship run and victory over the Lakers. Upon hearing that D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, and the rest of the guards on the Lakers would have to go toe to toe with the Nuggets’ guards, some fans opined that Jamal Murray is undoubtedly still the best guard from both sides.
Murray may outperform them by himself.
— brucegelin (@brucegelin) April 19, 2024
The statistics have also indicated that Murray takes his game to another level in the postseason. Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic’s two-man game played an instrumental role in the Nuggets winning last season.