With the 2020-21 regular season in the books, the Los Angeles Lakers are headed for a one-game showdown against the Golden State Warriors in the new play-in tournament.
The Lakers (42-30) are entering the game as the seventh seed in the Western Conference, and the Warriors (39-33) are playing as the eighth seed.
Both teams have suffered their fair share of injuries over the course of the 72-game season, but Stephen Curry has almost single-handedly willed the Warriors into the postseason.
Curry recently secured the NBA’s scoring title for the season, averaging an absurd 32 points per game while shooting 48% from the field, 42% from 3-point territory and 91.6% from the free-throw stripe.
It’s even more preposterous when you see how opposing teams guard the 33-year-old guard.
In a year that Steph Curry was supposed to get exposed, he just won the scoring title.
He did it while being defended like this every night. Levels. pic.twitter.com/O5epFkagGT
— Joey Linn (@joeylinn_) May 16, 2021
After the Lakers defeated the New Orleans Pelicans, LeBron James was asked about his thoughts on Curry and the Warriors ahead of Wednesday’s highly anticipated match.
James responded by lauding Curry’s play this season, touting him as the league’s MVP.
LeBron said Steph Curry is, in his opinion, “The MVP of our league this year."
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) May 17, 2021
The Lakers are 2-1 in the regular season against Golden State this season, with the most recent matchup being a 31-point blowout in favor of Los Angeles.
Los Angeles didn’t have Anthony Davis available for that game. He is slated to play this time. However this game transpires, keeping Curry in check is the cardinal task for the Lakers.
As the league has seen time and time again this season, Curry is fully capable of defeating a team on his own.
