Skip claims Lakers can beat Dubs in five games under a condition that originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
If there’s one thing the NBA world has learned over the past decade, it’s to never sideline the defending champion Warriors.
The Warriors prepare for Game 4 against the Los Angeles Lakers, who lost 2-1 in the Western Conference best-of-seven semifinals, at Crypto.com Arena on Monday. There’s still plenty of time for Golden State to turn things around, but after a terrible effort in Game 3, an NBA pundit believes the series is already over.
“I’ll say it again, Mr. Sharpe, your Lakers are just better than Golden State, which has been flawed all season,” FS1 presenter Skip Bayless told Shannon Sharpe on Monday morning’s “Undisputed.” “I still say I moved to the Lakers in five and I believe they will win the next two games including and starting with tonight.
“They’re better, they’re harder and they’re deeper, they’re more physical. [The Warriors] have no answer for Anthony Davis unless Anthony Davis does not appear. He doesn’t have to appear. If he doesn’t show up, you’ve got me.”
Davis presented the Warriors with a terrible challenge in Game 1, finishing with 30 points on 11-of-19 shooting and 23 rebounds in the Lakers’ 117-112 win at the Chase Center.
The 6-foot-10 tall man averaged 21.2 points on 51.4 percent shooting, 13.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.3 steals and 4.1 blocks in the 36.5 minutes he has been in so far played nine playoff games.
But his inconsistent play has been a big question mark throughout the postseason.
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However, Bayless believes the Warriors won’t stand a chance against the Lakers if Davis can keep his up-and-down power chart steady or even increase the rest of the way.
“I think he’ll be back in the building tonight,” Bayless continued. And if he is [the Warriors] have no prayer because they are just too small. They live and they die through the three. If you tell me you’re going to do more than 20, you have a chance. …
“The one thing [the Lakers] Doing better than Golden State is just the edge attacking because [the Warriors] Don’t have rim protection. Draymond [Green] tries his cock off but he is what? 6-foot-6? There’s only so much he can do. He’ll get into trouble, he’ll get into technical difficulties, things will get out of hand if he is, or burst on the brink.
Golden State was one that consistently proved doubters wrong, winning its fourth title in eight seasons when no one thought the team could. And one thing is certain: the defending champions will not go away without a fight.
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