Brooklyn Nets: 5 biggest threats from the Western Conference

The biggest Western Conference threats to the Brooklyn Nets: Los Angeles Lakers

This first entry was a given, as the two teams have been touted as the favorites to come out of their respective conferences, given the raw talent on both teams. While the Nets have the combined forces of Irving, Durant, and Harden, the Lakers have just as much star power with LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Andre Drummond.

While both teams have struggled with injury concerns, the last time the sides met without their stars did not bode well for Brooklyn, who were easily thrashed by 25-points by an undermanned Lakers squad.

The Lakers also have dominant bigs that Brooklyn will struggle to defend in the paint, meaning that their offensive game will have to be on point in order to contend with the Lakers squad. Even if the Nets pick up their defensive game, manning up a team with weapons such as James, Davis, Kuzma, Schroder, and Harrell will prove quite a challenge.

Even though the Nets may appear to be the favorites on paper, the Lakers have the championship experience and team chemistry that the Nets may struggle with come the postseason. While they have played well together, the Nets stars have not even played 10 games together as a big three, with the tandem of Davis and LeBron already having over a season’s worth of experience between them.

Neither team is a sure thing to come out on top in a best of seven series, however, the Nets will struggle to contend with a fully healthy and dominant Lakers squad, who are currently the league’s best defensive led by one of the greatest players of all-time.