Until they’re formally eradicated, the Lakers and Warriors — with their assortment of superstars and assortment of deep postseason runs — will all the time get floated as teams that would make a run.
But analyst Charles Barkley doesn’t suppose that’ll be the case this season.
During Thursday’s “Inside the NBA,” Barkley appeared to blast ESPN, which he didn’t particularly identify however slightly known as TNT’s “sister network,” for utilizing rhetoric that will counsel there’s an opportunity for these two groups.
“The West is going to go down to the wire,” Barkley stated. “I mean, it’s simple. It’s gonna be fun to watch. … The idiots on the other network, keep talking about the Lakers and the Warriors like they got a chance.”
That prompted Shaquille O’Neal, one of many present’s analysts, to reply that — technically — the Lakers, in ninth place, and the Warriors, in tenth place, do nonetheless have a chance with the play-in match.
“The play-in’s not a real thing, just for the record,” Barkley replied. “That’s just something we made up, Shaq. It’s just like the CBI Tournament.”
Even amid an underwhelming season, Klay Thompson’s shift to the bench and Stephen Curry’s recent ankle injury, the Warriors have positioned themselves for significant video games down the stretch after beginning 21-15.
The Lakers overcame a midseason lull the place their document dipped to 19-21, and LeBron James and Anthony Davis — averaging 25.2 and 24.7 factors per game, respectively — have helped them win 9 of their previous 14 video games.
And every of these franchises have appeared within the NBA Finals throughout the previous 4 seasons, with the Warriors’ dynasty advancing to 5 consecutive championship sequence prior to that.
This time, although, they received’t get the Western Conference’s high seeds — with these belonging to the Nuggets, the Thunder, perhaps even the Timberwolves.
They received’t have any home-court benefit.
There received’t be any Game 7s at Staples Center or at Chase Center.
Instead, their route to profitable the Western Conference — to any sequence in any respect — for the Lakers and Warriors would possibly depend on the play-in match.
“We’re just making up stuff,” Barkley stated of the play-in match. “They should thank Adam Silver for making up some stuff. ‘Hey, let’s just add a couple of teams to the playoffs so the Lakers and Warriors can get in.’”