10 gut reactions after the first weekend of the NBA Playoffs

If the Los Angeles Lakers can remain healthy, they can go far

I’m not going to lie; even though the Los Angeles Lakers entered the NBA Playoffs with plenty of hype, I was still a little bullish. However, after their Game 1 performance against the Memphis Grizzlies, one thing is clear – if this team can remain healthy (and, as we saw in Game 1, that’s far from a certainty), they can go far. The Lakers entered Game 1 against the Grizzlies with a chip on their shoulder. They played with something to prove and they ended it with a strong exclamation point.

The Lakers won Game 1 but they still have a lot to work to do to punch their ticket to the conference semifinals. They had a strong game plan in Game 1 but you have to assume that the Grizzlies around going to bounce back in Game 2. Even if the Lakers end up winning, this is likely going to be a long series.

The bottom line is that at least through the first game of the NBA Playoffs, the Lakers looked as dangerous as they were playing to end the regular season. Now they must find a way to remain healthy and then continue to play at a high level. It won’t be easy, but it can be done.