Magic Johnson Reveals How the Lakers Can Upset Defending Champion Thunder

TL;DR

Magic Johnson outlines the challenges the Lakers face against the Thunder in the Western Conference semifinals. He emphasizes the need for improved ball control and scoring support for LeBron James and Austin Reaves to secure an upset.

Key points

Lakers face defending champion Thunder in playoffs
Magic Johnson emphasizes need for better ball control
Lakers missing superstar Luka Doncic
Thunder went 4-0 against Lakers in regular season
LeBron James needs scoring support from teammates

Los Angeles LakersOklahoma City Thunder

The odds are not in favor Los Angeles Lakers defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference semifinals.

The Thunder are the reigning NBA champions, have defending NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on the roster and went 4-0 against the Lakers in the regular season. Meanwhile, the Lakers are missing superstar Luka Doncic and nearly blew a 3-0 series lead in the first round against the Houston Rockets.

NBA legend Magic Johnson, who won five NBA championships with Los Angeles, explained how the Lakers can pull off an upset over the Thunder.

“My Lakers have an uphill battle going against the reigning World Champions OKC and SGA, who in my mind was the MVP of the First Round of the Playoffs! To beat OKC, we have to find a way to not turn the ball over as much as we did against the Rockets and play great on both ends of the floor – so who’s going to step up and provide scoring to help LeBron and Austin? One thing we all know is OKC can score the basketball, so the Lakers are going to have to play some of their best basketball!” Johnson wrote on X on Monday.

ESPN Analysts, Magic Johnson and Stephen A. Smith talk before the game between the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena. The Lakers won 124-116.

Q&A

What challenges do the Lakers face against the Thunder in the playoffs?

The Lakers are up against the defending champion Thunder, who have a strong roster including MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a perfect 4-0 record against the Lakers this season.

How can the Lakers upset the Thunder according to Magic Johnson?

Magic Johnson suggests that the Lakers must minimize turnovers and enhance their scoring to support LeBron James and Austin Reaves in order to beat the Thunder.

What key players are missing for the Lakers in the playoffs?

The Lakers are missing superstar Luka Doncic, which adds to their challenges in the series against the Thunder.